Breathe goes to Thessaloniki in support of mental health and wellness

Two new workshops mark the beginning of new national initiatives

(Thessaloniki, 30 November) -- Breathe Hellas, the non-profit initiative devoted to mental health and emotional wellbeing in Greece, went to Thessaloniki in November to build support for the local community focused on wellness and prevention.

Breathe held its two first wellness workshops at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki on 24 November.

Breathe was also hosted by the Consulate of the Kingdom of Jordan for a networking fundraiser at the Monasty Hotel in Thessaloniki on 23 November. The event was attended by business leaders, personalities, and government officials from Thessaloniki.

What is Breathe?

Breathe Hellas was founded in 2020 by Tatiana Blatnik to help overcome the stigma of mental health by focusing on community and raising awareness.

Nearly 80% of people do not seek treatment for their mental health needs due to stigma and shame. Breathe aims to improve understanding of mental health by creating self-care tools that can be used at home and can create a sense of community, while also simplifying access to professional mental health care. 

Tatiana Blatnik remarked: “We believe that access to mental healthcare is a human right. Our goal is to reach every individual, family and child in every corner of Greece. Since we launched Breathe nearly 3 years ago we have had over 1 million views of our grassroots campaign having partnered with the Ministry of Health, over 1 million visits to the free teletherapy platform and - we are only just getting started.”

Workshops in Thessaloniki

The two interactive workshops in Thessaloniki are designed for young adults aged 18-25. They use scientific research evidence to demonstrate the impact of everyday positive habits in the support of mental health and wellness. The interventions are rooted in art therapy techniques that create a sense of community while helping participants to identify tools they can use while they navigate the passageway to adulthood.

The workshops are part of an initiative begun this year by Breathe to build workshops with a clear and powerful message that can easily travel to any school classroom in Greece. The organization is creating a new set of simple interventions that can be taught to staff and volunteers during rigorous training sessions, allowing workshops like those deployed in Thessaloniki to reach people anywhere in Greece with greater speed.

Breathe is focusing on young adults because they have repeatedly encountered a high level of stress during the last several years, while they often fall between the cracks in mental health awareness campaigns that do not use their cultural and generational perspectives. Research on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on students showed a substantial rise in the prevalence of stress and anxiety since 2020. As many as 83% of students and 93% of teachers reported being significantly stressed during the last three years, leaving a long-term legacy that remains to be addressed.

Interventions like these under development by Breathe have been shown to strengthen self-control, lower anxiety and stress, increase positive moods, and increase self-esteem and communication skills.

The workshops were designed and led by Dr. Lily Peppou, Clinical Psychologist and Public Mental Health Research Coordinator of the Social Psychiatry Unit at EPIPSI.

Dr. Peppou said, "These workshops aim to raise awareness about mental health and wellbeing among youth by employing imaginative, innovative and attractive ways to reach them. Although there has been marked progress in the de-stigmatization of mental health, the prejudice is still there. We are trying to inspire and motivate them as well as to provide them with the tools they need for their self-care and for better connecting with others. Eventually, we hope to build an empowered and resilient community of youth. We strongly believe this will be an effective strategy of primary prevention and an investment in shaping a better future for all.”

The huge impact and potential of the workshops was noted by many of the participants in their final remarks, including one who noted, “I am someone who expresses their feelings with difficult, and today feels like a start.

The two workshops:  

“Post It! A gratitude Intervention”

How can gratitude lead to a better quality of life? The workshop is designed to cultivate feelings of gratitude and the central role it plays in self-esteem. Breathe utilizes art therapy techniques that encourage participants to create a “Breathe Postcard” that can be sent to friends or family, helping them to recognize the love and support they receive and feel empowered by it.

“Pop-Up Museum of Mental Wellness”

The workshop asks how art can contribute to mental health and well-being. Using Cycladic from the Museum of Cycladic Art that traveled to the auditorium of AUTH, Breathe conducted an original guided tour through the abstract shapes of the human form to raise key questions about mental well-being.

About Breathe Hellas:

Breathe partners with dozens of organizations including the Greek Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization, and the University of Athens Mental Health Research Institute. Last year Breathe created a holistic media experience in the Greek language for the Greek cultural context in partnership with Peak State. Breathe supports the free teletherapy platform Milamou that provides 24/7 access to teletherapy services. Breathe is working alongside clinical experts and dozens of high impact musicians, athletes, and artists to create its second awareness campaign that will be broadcast nationally in Greece.

Online at www.breathehellas.com

About Tatiana Blatnik:

The founder of Breathe Hellas, Tatiana Blatnik is the wife of HRH Prince Nikolaos. A graduate of Georgetown University, she has worked in fashion for Diane von Furstenberg and currently serves on the advisory board of Ergo Capital where she helps to guide investments in technology, hospitality, and wellness. In 2016 she wrote A Taste of Greece to promote the values of Greek cuisine, and she has worked with Lemon Tree Trust launching agricultural businesses in refugee communities in Northern Iraq, Greece and Jordan.