With the participation of 420 of our fellow citizens, who received certificates of attendance of the scientific lectures, the winter semester at the Municipal Free Open University (DEAP) of Glyfada was completed yesterday. In a fully detailed speech, psychologist, child psychologist, author Alexandra Kappatou, analysed Depression in all its dimensions, making clear its separation from the sadness we all experience from time to time.
Before her speech, a minute’s silence was observed with immense respect to the memory of the excellent professor Christina Fosteris who lost her life so unjustly during the natural disaster that hit our city on January 21. Due to the events, no ceremony was held to award the certificates given to the participants, nor was the Mayor of Glyfada, George Papanikolaou, who founded the institution of lifelong learning in our city in the spring of 2019, present.
The speaker was introduced by the Deputy Mayor of Education, Lifelong Learning and Youth Annie Kauka, while the submission of questions was coordinated by the Municipal Councillor for e-Government Orestis Tsaglas. These are the two members of the Municipal Authority who are responsible for the operation of the CMP this year. The steering committee has also included, throughout the years since the establishment of the CMP, teachers Olga Doxopoulou and Dimitra Moschou. Yesterday’s lecture was attended by the Deputy Mayor of Administration Dimitris Nitsiopoulos, the Municipal Councillor for Culture Georgia Vamvakerou and the President of the Glyfada Parents’ Association Maria Douni.
In her speech, Ms Kappatou made it clear that depression should not be confused with low mood. It is a serious mental health problem that affects our sleep, our work, our happiness and all our relationships. More than 50 million people in Europe and 280 million in the World experience depression. And, the worst thing we can say to any of these people is: “Try”! He can’t. It’s like saying to someone who has a cast on their leg, “Run!” We just have to be there for them. With understanding. That’s what a therapist does. He’s a fellow traveler. The power lies in the sufferer asking for help. Depression today is cured 80%-90% of the time. Accepting the problem and deciding to ask for help is the first step to getting your life back.
The lecture of the distinguished psychologist, who spoke in a calm, composed tone, with a perfectly clear and understandable speech full of empathy, had exactly this goal: To unite all our voices in a recognition of the problems, because there is no problem without a solution.
The lecture took place in the new, warm and welcoming space of the Municipality of Glyfada: The Cultural Centre at the junction of Pavlos Bakoyannis and Alekos Panagoulis streets. The lectures of the spring semester of the Municipal Free Open University of Glyfada will also be held there, based on a program to be announced soon.
