PROJECT NAME: With rainbow colors to mental health
PROJECT HOLDER: Udruga za unaprjeđenje mentalnog zdravlja Vrapčići
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION TIME: 1.10.2022. - 31.12.2023. (15 months)
PROJECT VALUE: EUR 82,095.79
PROJECT SUMMARY:
With this project we want to strengthen the providers of psychosocial services and counselling to work with the LGBTIQ population, and through the establishment of a platform to support LGBITQ people lay the foundations for the development of content and services for this vulnerable, invisible and discriminated group in our society.
According to the European Agency for Human Rights, 60% of LGBTIQ people in Croatia felt discriminated or stigmatized because of their sexual orientation. It is a group that enjoys a worse status in society and does not have much power.
There is a large percentage of the public who are willing to discriminate against others on the
grounds of their sexual orientation. It is expected that LGBTIQ people in our society will be exposed to situations of violence and discrimination, ie a high risk of minority stress, which will have a negative impact on their quality of life and the development of permanent psychosocial difficulties.
Although there are many associations in Croatia and the LGBTIQ movement is relatively branched, in eastern Croatia (Slavonia) there is no association, movement or service that deals with the protection of LGBITQ people who are exposed to violence and discrimination in this part of Croatia. LGBTIQ people are invisible in society, they hide their identities, and with severe violence and discrimination, lose self-esteem which leads to the development of psychosocial difficulties.
PROJECT GOALS:
    1. To empower providers of psyhosocial support and counseling services to work with LGBTIQ+ people
    2. To create a protocol for dealing with LGBTIQ+ people that will have a multiplying effect
    3. Sensitise the general public about the problems of LGBTIQ+ people and their rights
    4. To provide psychosocial and legal support to LGBTIQ+ people

Partners:
1. FRI - Foreningen for kjønns- og seksualitetsmangfold // The Norwegian Organisation for Sexual and Gender Diversity
2. kolekTIRV | Za prava trans, interspolnih i rodno varijantnih osoba
3. Informativno pravni centar Slavonski Brod
4. F.O.R.T.E.S.- Centar za demokratski razvoj i inkluziju

The "With rainbow colors to mental health“ project benefits from a grant under the Active Citizens Fund from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, through the EEA Grants.