Residents of Varbovka and Vladislav learned about the “Meetings and Support” initiative, part of the Equicares project

On May 21 and 22, the first meetings were held in the villages of Varbovka, Pavlikeni Municipality, and Vladislav, Strazhitsa Municipality, to present the “Meetings and Support” initiative – local spaces for conversations, sharing, and support in the community.

The meetings are part of the EQUICARES project, which works for more accessible, understandable and people-friendly support in the field of mental health. Within the project, these spaces are known as Smart Health Labs, but in Bulgaria the initiative is presented with the more human and understandable name “Meetings and Support”.

Representatives of local communities, parents, young people, mediators and active residents participated in the events. The meetings took place in an informal atmosphere and lasted about 40–50 minutes. The main goal was for people to get acquainted with the idea of ​​the initiative and to open a conversation about stress, tension, daily difficulties and the need for support.

During the meetings, it was emphasized that “Meetings and Support” will not be an office, an institution or a formal lecture. The idea is to create a calm space in which people can talk, share what worries them, ask questions and look for possible solutions together.

The topic of mental health was presented in an accessible way – not as something distant or scary, but as part of everyday life. The conversations touched on issues such as stress, family and social difficulties, lack of information about available support and people’s hesitation to speak openly when they are having a hard time.

The participants shared their observations about the needs in the community and what forms of support would be useful. An important emphasis was placed on trust – in people working in the field, in mediators, in specialists and in the very opportunity for a person to be heard without judgment.

The meetings in Vrbovka and Vladislav are the first step towards broader work in the municipalities of Pavlikeni and Strazhitsa. More conversations, activities with the participation of specialists and community representatives, as well as an information campaign to promote the “Meetings and Support” locations are to come.

The main message of the initiative is simple: sometimes a person just needs someone to listen to them. It is from such a conversation that trust, support, and finding better solutions for people in the community begin.