Belgrade, 8 April 2023 – The conclusion of ‘A Cup of Coffee with a Psychologist’ panel session, held in front of the packed hall of the Leskovac Cultural Center on the World Health Day, is that no one is without problems, but it is important not to be silent about it, but rather talk about it.

‘We were born and brought up in a society that generally favors patience and strength, endurance as proof of character and the rule of ’not washing dirty linen’ in public. Many times, the conviction that one not only can, but also must solve their problem on their own, is one of the main obstacles for a person who is facing psychological problems, to talk about it to anyone, even the closest friends, let alone strangers such as psychological and psychiatric professionals,’ said Prof. Dr Bojana Cvejić, from Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy in Niš, adding that ‘we should not lose sight of the family stigma, or the fear of discrimination and social isolation which reduce the motivation for treatment’.

‘Talking is the beginning of problem solving. When a person decides to share how he or she feels, he or she then realizes that he/she is not alone and that there are other people who feel similarly. In addition to family and friends, psychologists can help a lot to people to overcome and defeat certain conditions’, concluded Prof. Dr Cvejić.

Ivan Grujić, an activist from Leskovac, said that dealing with mental illness would have been easier if we had not lived in a traditional environment that was additionally burdened with survival.

‘You can’t buy health with money, but a stable financial framework is a better starting point for a person not to deal only with the most basic existential needs’, said Grujić, emphasizing that the whole thing is additionally worsened by the stigma that follows those with mental disorders for which the support of the community is important.

‘Mental health is the topic with a red alarm status, not only in Serbia but also globally. The World Health Organization has made this topic, and depression in particular, a priority and asked the heads of states and governments to treat it as such. It comes naturally for us at Hemofarm Foundation to deal with this topic and alarm the whole society as we have been caring for people’s health for 30 years already. We nowadays witness a huge interest of people in the mental health topic, but also the fear to talk about it at the same time. We fight against fear and stigma together, for a better health of people in Serbia’, said Suzana Đorđević, Director of Hemofarm Foundation.

‘What we see now is that many people's personal problems are being raised to a social level. The whole campaign implemented by Hemofarm Foundation is actually all about it. Among other things, it serves to ensure that a problem that has been identified both locally and globally is worked on as much as possible in order to be solved.’, stated Gordan Paunović, Director of Info Park organization.

‘It is important that people get animated, that they start talking, that they present their problems and that they solve those problems together’, added Paunović.

‘A Cup of Coffee with a Psychologist’ panel is a part of the campaign for fighting depression and stigma ‘Unbreakable’ through which more than 15,000 people received the help and support of the experts, psychologists and psychiatrists who work on the SOS line for fighting depression and stigma no. 0800 001 002 and e-mail podrska@nesalomivi.rs. The help and support provided by the experts from four Special Hospitals for Psychiatric Diseases in Vršac, Kovin, Novi Kneževac and Gornja Toponica are free of charge, anonymous and available 24/7.