The First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, visited Belgrade at the invitation of the First Lady of Serbia, Tamara Vučić, to participate in the  Conference on Mental Health

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska opened the Mental Health Conference during her visit to Belgrade, Serbia.

This event continued the conversation that started at the Third Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, held in Kyiv in September 2023. Olena Zelenska participated in a panel discussion on “Mental Health in a Post-Conflict Environment,” while Mrs Vučić participated in a discussion on “Mental Health of Children and Adolescents—An Investment in Our Future.”

Mrs Zelenska and Mrs Vučić also visited the Center for Youth CEZAM. This organization was set up by the Serbian government in close cooperation with psychiatrists and psychologists to support and maintain the mental well-being of young people and adults under 30.

As part of strengthening cultural ties and cooperation between Serbia and Ukraine, the First Ladies opened a Ukrainian bookshelf in the largest library in Serbia – the Belgrade City Library. The collection includes Vasyl Stus’s poetry, an anthology of war poetry, books on Russia’s war against Ukraine, classical and modern Ukrainian literature, and children’s and educational books. An audio guide in Ukrainian was also launched at the Belgrade Fortress.

The two First Ladies also attended the signing of an agreement on research, education, and cultural cooperation between the Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv and the University of Belgrade. The institutions have already agreed on concrete steps, such as the mutual establishment of research and education centres, where language, culture, philosophy, and history will be studied.