Letter to the public from ANIME experts:
January 16, 2025 Anima experts attended a meeting in the Prime Minister's office at the invitation of the Prime Minister. The discussion focused on the steps that need to be taken after the crimes in Cetinje to heal and prevent trauma and psychological suffering of families and citizens. The Minister of Health and the Secretary of the Ministry of Health were present. On that occasion, the Minister informed us that a new program for mental health was being created and offered us cooperation. We accepted because we believed that this was the right opportunity to systematically define and begin serious preventive, psychotherapeutic and sociological work with traumatic experiences (direct and multi-generational).
We considered it necessary to define a special unit within mental health focused on traumatic experiences and mobilize several experts who had already shown interest in working in this area through their engagement in helping those psychologically vulnerable after the crimes of January 1 in Cetinje, and who were willing to improve and organize themselves in this area. This was to be the beginning of a future Institute for Trauma that would deal with research, education, prevention, providing assistance in crisis situations and working on reconciliation. It was a great chance to support the survivors in Cetinje and the city itself, so that their suffering would not be in vain but would contribute to the development of mental health and society. We concluded that the psychosocial support for survivors was adequate at that moment and we had concrete steps for further work on the process and support from abroad.
January 22, 2025 We were invited to a meeting at the Ministry of Health. The Minister was absent, so the conversation was held with the secretary with the promise that the Draft Proposal for the Mental Health Improvement Program for 2025–26. with an action plan would be sent to us in a few days to give our suggestions. It was not sent and this is not the only disregard for the agreed activities.
May 19, 2025. Following the work of the Health Committee, we learn that the Program has been completed and that NGOs were not interested in participating in its development. The Ministry of Health has published a call for NGO participation. 14. May which lasts until 23. May. 15. May The public is informed about the completed program and action plan. The explanation of the NGO's lack of interest is at the level of ill-mannered. What is the point?
In our opinion, the content of the Program, which can be freely called – Mental Health Progress Program 2025–26 in Montenegro. A large number of pages are filled with thrown-in phrases of generalities from other documents and stale research. Not a single word about the mental state of a society in which members of the community massively kill their closest people, relatives and friends. Not a single word about a specific plan of work with the survivors and the population of Cetinje in the coming year. How is it possible that the Ministry of Health does not have the responsibility to provide an answer about the causes of these crimes, which are certainly not only that the weapons were not confiscated and that the security authorities reacted inadequately? How did the crimes affect the mental health of people in Montenegro and what measures must be taken URGENTLY? How well did the mental health institutions function in the past period? The DRI gave its opinion. Does anyone wonder whether the crimes would have happened if 15% of the previous mental health plan had been implemented instead of 80%? And who is responsible for that? It is disgusting to justify this inaction and carelessness with a lack of funds due to Covid. And why is the "inter-sectoral cooperation" for which those responsible are shamefully parroting is not working? And what and how much impact does this have on the state of mental health, crimes in Cetinje and the increase in violence? Who is responsible for this? Incidentally, we sense a dangerous threat to the poor, so instead of holding those who are obliged to create economic security and social justice accountable because that is how poverty is treated, they are planning to monitor, label and imprison them in hospitals or perhaps in reserves for the poor so that they do not disturb the peace of those who are pampered in armchairs. This is a logical method for those who believe that mental health has nothing to do with ecology. Increase the number of mental health beds, the number of surveillance cameras and the number of police officers and "peaceful Bosnia", that is the plan! They think it is as cheap as human lives are cheap to them!
Due to this level of unawareness and irresponsibility, the atmosphere on the Health Committee was pleasantly boring (with the exception of MP Mugoša, Dr. Dobričanin, psychiatrist Dr. Popović and human rights defenders who made connections with reality) in contrast to the disturbing atmosphere on the Security and Defense Committee where they were confronted with the crimes in Cetinje because they were called out as responsible. Even if it was out of sheer fear for their position, the discussion had a connection with reality but also with humanity. There was none on the Health Committee. Why? Silence covers up psychological injuries. Pain, anger, lies and inferiority are passed down from generation to generation, so the power of white coats endures, which is as terrifying as multisectoral cooperation on this issue.
It is important for us that citizens know that after the crimes in Cetinje, national institutions are obliged to provide assistance to the mental health of citizens and work towards reconciliation. Health institutions must create an adequate response through:
– Crisis interventions after a traumatic event (from 2 to 6 months after the event) in two directions: psychological/social (recovery of the traumatic state, acceptance of loss and material reparations) and satisfaction of justice (guilt, responsibility and respect for the law are sought).
– Preparations and learning – Short-term program (1 to 2 years) to create an environment in which reconciliation will be possible. Organizing and training those who will seriously deal with trauma and healing. Actively participate in the community and expose challenges, reduce the space for lies, build patterns of nonviolence and shared visions.
– Creating a design for social change – Long-term program of community recovery (5 to 10 years) and changing cultural patterns of multi-generational trauma towards peace-making.
This requires political will, which clearly does not exist. It is unacceptable that the Ministry of Health turns a blind eye to the psychological suffering that is omnipresent and further misleads the public.
Bonus video:
