
MMental health is still such a topic of taboo in Albania. For individual’s to openly admit they are suffering from depression, anxiety, or any other mental health illness is regarded as shocking and out of societal norms.
In 2002 Albanian signed the Mental Health Project of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, but it is clear there is a huge gap where help should be provided to members of the public who do not have access to the help which they require (Frashëri, 2016).
The stigma is something which stems from the core traditions of the culture. Children often worked to support the family and were (and are) often met with the “Children should be seen and not heard” mentality. As such, they grow up learning that expressing one’s thoughts and emotion is not the norm.
Young boys grow into men who are taught that they should be a strong, masculine figure in the family. He is the provider, and he should not be seen having emotions, much less expressing them.
Young girls grow into women who are taught that they should raise kids, listen to their family, and husband no matter what.
Both genders go through so much, simply because of the stigma they face from society. Discussions regarding mental health are not common-place, let alone seeking treatment.
Treatment such as CBT or psychiatric interventions is often expensive and not seen as a necessity. Investment into mental health services in Albania is extremely poor and near to non-existent.
We, as an establishment, are seeing the effects that these traditions and mentalities are having on individuals brought up in that society or within families which maintain the same traditions and concepts.
Mental health, especially in the Albanian culture and diaspora, is something we hope will become a main topic of discussion in the years to come.
We hope to see a day where the first insult you can give someone is not “crazy”, and where there is more emphasis placed on individuals’ emotions and struggles.
By providing bilingual services in both English and Albanian, we ensure that clients are met with the support they so desperately need and require, but never thought that they were able to get.
To remove the stigma that there must be “something wrong” with you if you decide to seek therapy. We are here because our clients are at the heart of what we do in every scenario.
Because they matter to us…
References
Frashëri, E., 2016. PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IN ALBANIA DURING THE PROCESS OF DECENTRALIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. European Journal of Research in Social Sciences Vol, 4(6).