The association “Svjetlost Drine” from Gorazde continues in 2026 what institutions have for years failed to resolve systematically – continuous psychotherapeutic support for people suffering from PTSD.
The sixth psychotherapy group has already begun its work, and the need for this type of assistance, as the Association points out, is not only not diminishing but is becoming increasingly pronounced.
During the past year, around 1.000 visits to the Association were recorded, which clearly shows that war traumas do not end with the signing of peace, nor are they healed by time alone. Precisely for this reason, “Svjetlost Drine” has for years been working not only with those affected, but also with their families, which are often the first line of support, yet not infrequently overburdened by the consequences of the illness.
“We do not limit ourselves only to a psychotherapy group of affected members. Through projects, we entered families and worked with them, created coordination between fathers, children, and spouses, so that families could understand the illness faced by their loved ones,” emphasizes Mustafa Celik, president of the Association.
Although such projects have shown significant results, their future remains uncertain. Instead of the legally prescribed five percent of funds for the veteran population, in practice, only two percent is allocated, which is not sufficient for stable planning and long-term work.
An additional problem is the years-long non-implementation of the Law on Supplementary Rights of Veterans and Members of Their Families, which, for people suffering from PTSD, remains a dead letter.
“Persons who developed PTSD after December 23rd, 1997, cannot obtain the status of a war military invalid nor exercise any rights on that basis. Also, the law provides for the establishment of a special department for people suffering from PTSD at the Cantonal Hospital, but that department has never been formed,” Celik stresses.
The Association recalls that they have repeatedly addressed the competent institutions, but without concrete results.
“The Ministry replied to us that the Cantonal Hospital was obliged to comply with the legal obligation within 90 days, but to this day, nothing has been done. We are not looking for someone to blame, but there is an obvious serious lack of coordination between the authorities and health institutions,” Celik adds.
Despite everything, “Svjetlost Drine” in 2026 remains a place of support, understanding, and treatment for those who have been living with war traumas for three decades. However, the Association stresses that psychotherapy cannot and must not remain a substitute for the state’s systemic responsibility, Klix.ba writes.
