During the holidays, many people feel psychological problems and they need professional help to face their daily worries and fear of what their future holds, it was said at the panel talk ’A Cup of Coffee with a Psychologist’ in Belgrade.

The participants of the panel discussion organized by the Hemofarm Foundation in partnership with the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Belgrade and the Dorćol Platz Art Commune talked about mental health during the holidays and the accompanying prejudice.



The psychotherapist of the Mozaik psychological counselling centre, Tijana Mirović, said that people generally have an attitude towards holidays in accordance with their position in life and their attitude towards everything that happens to them.

’There are optimists, pessimists and those who believe that holiday is just another day and should not be assigned special importance,’ she said. It is important, as she pointed out, that even during the holidays we behave in accordance with the needs we have at that moment.

’We need to ask ourselves how we are doing, what do we need, and be our own Santa Claus, and let other people be the reindeer that pull us when it's hard and our 'packages' that we drag with us. Connection with other people is very important’, said Tijana Mirović.



Journalist Miloš Milovanović pointed out that people often behave the way they are expected to during the holidays, and not according to their feelings and needs.

’We are often put into moulds, we do things according to a schedule that no one asked if it suits us, and we are not brave enough to say that we are not up to it. We don't have to show that we are in a good mood and euphoric if we don't feel that way’ he said.

He added that sometimes it is much easier to make an effort for others than to help ourselves, which is best seen during the holidays.



Javorka Đurić, author of the book of illustrations ’What if this isn't real’, said that during the holidays she tries to do what she likes and not what she is supposed to do.

’It would be good if we tried being there for each other, being as good as possible for ourselves and for others, and every contact with people is a valuable resource’ she pointed out.



The panel discussion ’A Cup of Coffee with a Psychologist’ is part of the ’Unbreakable’ campaign launched by the Hemofarm Foundation, aimed at raising public awareness about the mental health preservation, the fight against depression and the stigma that accompanies those who suffer from it. Citizens can get help and support by calling the SOS number 0800 001 002, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as well as by sending an email to podrska@nesalomivi.rs. Support is also available through the website www.nesalomivi.rs and texts by experts on the topic of maintaining mental health, personal stories of people who are fighting depression or have overcome it, the most frequent questions and answers about depression, recommendations on how to overcome it. The website also contains a list of mental health institutions on the territory of Serbia, including addresses and telephone numbers.