160 Sessions of Free Mental Health Support

Wings of Hope continued activities and services in the field of psychotherapy and counseling, encompassed by its multi-systemic integrative model of work (cooperation between psychiatrist, physiotherapist, physiologist, social worker, pedagogues, teachers, and legal aid). The Foundation’s model of a multi-systemic integrative approach to the needs of the project participants both attracts the attention of adult clients and helps to grow the number of children included in psychotherapy and counseling sessions. 

Our multi-systemic approach and the availability of different services makes Wings of Hope the first choice compared to public institutions, which are usually overwhelmed by the number of people seeking help. In addition, Wings of Hope is able to provide services to those who either do not have insurance or fall through a legal loophole as laws establishing the standardization and recognition of psychotherapy do not exist. As a result, the demand for Wings of Hope services is very high.

While Bosnian society, as the rest of the world, continues to struggle with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2022 has shown positive developments life for many started to return to the pre-pandemic norms. Additionally, other organizations have also started to offer crisis intervention support. As such, the number of crisis intervention calls has decreased during this period, although individuals continue to seek psychosocial support for problems stemming from the long-term impact of the pandemic. The long-term effects of the pandemic will become more and more clear over time, as the pandemic has not ended at the time of this report.  

Eleven (11) psychotherapists, with training experience in Gestalt psychotherapy, CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy), Child adolescent integrative psychotherapy, Systematic family therapy, and a psychiatrist create a network of psychological support that cannot be obtained anywhere else in the Sarajevo Canton or further afield. Since society has reopened following the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, only 10% of clients are online at the time of this report. Many of the psychological problems that clients reported were related to existential fear as a result of the war in Ukraine. The war in Ukraine has brought back memories for many of the war in BiH in the 1990s, especially for those with chronic PTSD. Additionally, many have anxiety and fear of war coming to BiH and the potential isolation.

Links:

• Wings of Hope website
• Wings of Hope model of work

Wings of Hope (BIH) has a long history of helping children and adults with mental health support. The initiative came in 1995 when the consequences of war on mental health could no longer be denied. Young people were disproportionately affected by the war - their childhoods were disrupted by a constant threat of death and access to education was severely harmed, leaving children without stability in their everyday life.

In 1996, programs of psychosocial aid were started and aimed at a range of groups. The project of "Reintegration of Pupils: Returnees into the School System" was key in trying to reverse the damage done by the absence of schooling during the war.

Further projects involved the intensive programme "Reconciliation through Detraumatisation" that was launched in 2000.

The organisation continued to grow with the centre for psychosocial aid for children and youth opening in 2003. It focused on the importance of continuous education of psychologists, pedagogies, and neuropsychiatrists within Wings of Hope and in Bosnia and Herzegovina in general.

In the next paragraphs, you will find a successful story of one of our therapies. For more, follow this link http://wings-of-hope.ba/model-of-work/.

.P. (21-year-old male) The project participant lives with his mother in Pale, Istocno Sarajevo. He came to the Centre presenting symptoms of social anxiety. .P.’s father was killed during the war when the project participant was three months old. When he was 8 years old, he was diagnosed with epilepsy.

The project participant describes his mother as overprotective. Additionally, the lifestyle the project participant has due to his epilepsy keeps him away from many social situations. When the project participant is faced with certain social situations he reacts with high anxiety. He describes the following symptoms: rapid heartbeat, tremoring hands, trembling voice, and flushing. After the completion of the assessment, the psychologist started treating social anxiety with cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). The CBT treatment included:

• Management of Anxiety;

• Exposure to Social Anxiety-Inducing Situations;

• Relaxation Treatment;

• Cognitive Interventions.

After the treatment, the project participant was able to fulfill his individually set goals, including increased tolerance to anxiety and the ability to socialize with people with decreased anxiety.

Links:

• Wings of Hope website
• Wings of Hope model of work