By Dilyana Bondokova | Clinical Psychologist
On March 13, the Bulgarian government declared a state of emergency because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This meant that gatherings of people were prohibited, people had to work from home if possible, etc. I believe most people were not prepared for this experience.
For us, as a day program for psychosocial rehabilitation, this created big challenges. It made it necessary to change our whole day-to-day routine and that of the people in the program as well. It was quite unusual to see the day center empty, it is usually full of people. We are used to thinking that being together is the way to recovery because the relationships in the program are probably the most important therapeutic element. This time, we had to stay apart to stay healthy.
After the initial shock, we tried to find a way to keep our activities running and continue providing support without putting anyone at risk. We started having online sessions with the participants in the program and even held groups online.
In the midst of all this, we applied for a hardship microgrant from GlobalGiving and we were approved. We are so thankful for this because we had to provide additional materials to ensure adequate hygiene. These expenses were unforeseen, and our budget was already stretched.
Currently we are slowly returning to our usual routine while following the recommendations of the Government. In other words, we are finding ways to be together again in a safe manner. You can make this easier by donating to our cause or sharing it with your network!
Best regards and stay healthy!
Our team
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