October 10 marks World Mental Health Day, which aims to raise awareness and destigmatize mental health issues. When it comes to supporting people in emotional or mental distress, we often forget how crucial the role of communities and support persons is for people in need. The LGBT community is one of the most vulnerable social groups when it comes to mental health, however, we are still lacking awareness and knowledge on prevention and appropriate support systems that we can provide for each other as a community.

In this workshop we will address the concept of a support person and explore ways of supporting and assisting people in emotional or mental distress. How to approach a friend you care about, how to offer support to someone who is struggling with depression, anxiety or panic attacks? Which words to choose, how to offer help? How to ensure the personal integrity of a person in need, how to empower them? Answers to all questions above (and any other) will be sought during the workshop. Welcome all who are interested in the topic. And please invite anyone else you think could benefit from the event. ?

The workshop will be led by Vesna Štefanec, a social pedagogue who has been working on topics related to the LGBT community and counseling for LGBT people for almost a decade. After the workshop, she will be available for brief personal talks and / or counseling arrangements.

With ‘Pride Connects’, we strive to connect the local LGBTIQ+ youth, activists, and all those interested in the political side of Pride(s) and LGBTIQ+ Human Rights Struggles in Slovenia and across the world.

We know that being an openly LGBTIQ+ person and walking down any public space is a political act, and we know it is not easy – so we want to create a safe(r) space for all LGBTIQ+ people and a place of empowerment.