Physical injuries and the lack of basic living conditions are the most visible consequences of displacement, but what often remains unseen — and leaves the deepest scars — are the psychological traumas and mental health challenges faced by people on the move.

In order to ensure adequate and timely support, a two-day training titled “Mental Health Challenges in Migration: From Recognition to Intervention” was held in Bujanovac and Vranje on May 18 and 19, 2026. The training was organized as part of the project “Inclusive Support for Refugees in Southern Serbia,” implemented by the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization (EHO) with the support of UMCOR.

The training was aimed at strengthening the capacities of professionals who work on the front lines of support every day. It brought together staff from reception and asylum centers of the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia (KIRS), employees of Centers for Social Work, as well as local service providers from southern Serbia.

Through interactive sessions and the analysis of concrete examples from everyday practice, participants worked on improving their knowledge and skills in key areas essential for fieldwork:

°             Understanding psychological consequences: Gaining deeper insight into the long-term effects of displacement, loss of home, and war trauma on individuals and families.

°             Recognizing vulnerability: Timely identification of signs of psychological distress and recognition of torture survivors among people on the move.

°             Psychosocial support: Methods for providing psychological first aid in crisis situations and direct fieldwork.

°             Systemic cooperation: Applying and improving referral mechanisms within the existing protection system so that no individual remains outside the support network.

The training was led by Biljana Petrović and Sanja Đurica from the International Aid Network IAN, experts with decades of experience in psychotraumatology and humanitarian work.

By connecting institutions, strengthening professionals, and improving referral systems, continuity and a higher quality of support are ensured, directly contributing to the preservation of the dignity of people who have been forced to leave their homes.