This event has been ended!
Ako si budovať psychickú odolnosť a byť oporou sebe aj druhým v náročných situáciách
How to build mental resilience and support yourself and others in difficult situations
Event by: Nadácia POLIS
Location: Cuba Libre Rum & Cigar House, Žilina, Mariánske námestie 31, Žilina
Topics: Psychology
About event
Guests:
Martina Špániková, director of the SČK territorial association in Dolný Kubín
Vladimír Mrekaj, commander of the Bobrov Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service
Daniel Kupka, psychological first aid trainer, crisis preparedness trainer, SČK
Lucia Faltinová, senior trainer in the field of mental health at SČK (also in the role presenters)
How to manage stress, pressure, uncertainty or crisis situations? And what to do when someone from our neighborhood is in trouble?
Guests will share experiences from real crisis situations and offer practical tips on how to manage the burden, support yourself and others and recognize when it is necessary to seek professional help.
A public discussion with professionals and volunteers from the rescue services and humanitarian practice will bring insight into the challenges that young people face today and the possibilities, how to build mental resilience. The discussion is intended especially for high school students, teachers and everyone who cares about the mental health of young people.
The event is also an introduction to an experiential workshop that will offer practical training in psychological resilience and the basics of psychological first aid.
Program: Discussion · Break · Workshop for students
The accompanying workshop is intended for high school students who want to learn how to build psychological resilience and what they can do for themselves and their surroundings in difficult life situations. The program is conducted in an experiential format: it will bring practical knowledge of the lecturers and exercises for the participants. The goal is to provide young people with a basic idea of their own potential to help themselves and others cope with difficult life situations as best as possible.
The workshop will be led by a team of experienced lecturers who have experience and theoretical knowledge in various areas of humanitarian work, including psychological first aid.
Martina Špániková
She is the director of the territorial association of the SČK in Dolný Kubín with territorial jurisdiction for the whole of Orava. At the same time, she works at the EDUKOS Consultation and Information Center in Dolny Kubín, where she conducted communication training for persons released from imprisonment. She pilot-verified the resocialization programs Employment and the Program for juveniles in institutions for serving imprisonment within the framework of the national project Chance to return, in which she also serves as a member of the steering committee. In the past, she taught at the Department of Social Work of the Catholic University in Ružomberok and worked at the Social Services Facility in Tvrdošín.
Vladimír Mrekaj
He worked as an independent professional inspector at the Regional Directorate of the Fire and Rescue Service in Žilina. As an inspector of the fire prevention department at OR HaZZ in Námestov, he simultaneously ensured crisis management and classified information as well as investigating the causes of fires. As a managing officer, he performed activities related to the management of serious events. In addition to the main focus on prevention, crisis management, investigation of the causes of fires and the activity of the commanding officer during extraordinary events, he also devoted himself to preventive and educational activities aimed at fire protection for children, youth and adults. In addition to his job, he is an active volunteer firefighter, and since 2017 he has been the chairman of the Orava fire brigade and at the same time a member of the Assembly of the DPO SR. He also transfers his experience gained from professional firefighters to volunteer fire brigades and since 2010 he has been the commander of the Beavers Volunteer Fire and Rescue Corps and at the same time from 2015 to 2025 he was the commander of the DHZ Orava rescue system (light special).
Daniel Kupka
He is dedicated to rescue and first aid. In the past, he worked as a firefighter, rescuer and fire alarm operator in Sučany. He is a member of the Slovak Red Cross, where he works as a trainer of psychological first aid, a crisis preparedness trainer, he is engaged in health supervision and lectures on first aid. At the same time, he coordinates a small group of volunteers - First Responders of the Operation Center of the Rescue Health Service in the village of Čierne and Skalité. The youngest of the team of lecturers, 20-year-old Daniel, who is an inspiration to many teenagers, says: "My goal is to help people and spread awareness about first aid and psychological first aid, because I believe that this knowledge can save life."
Lucia Faltinová (also in the role of moderator)
She has been working as a humanitarian worker and volunteer for years, with intervention experience in individual and mass crisis events. She is a senior trainer in the field of mental health at the Slovak Red Cross. Previously, she worked as a field worker in the Blue Angel crisis intervention team, and as a rescue dog handler. She worked with emigrants from Ukraine and abroad with people on the run from Africa and the Middle East. She lived in the USA for 3.5 years and o.i. she worked with children and women who experienced domestic violence. She spent 12 years in Great Britain. At the University of Cambridge, she worked with students with special educational needs and those experiencing difficult life situations.
Martina Špániková, director of the SČK territorial association in Dolný Kubín
Vladimír Mrekaj, commander of the Bobrov Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service
Daniel Kupka, psychological first aid trainer, crisis preparedness trainer, SČK
Lucia Faltinová, senior trainer in the field of mental health at SČK (also in the role presenters)
How to manage stress, pressure, uncertainty or crisis situations? And what to do when someone from our neighborhood is in trouble?
Guests will share experiences from real crisis situations and offer practical tips on how to manage the burden, support yourself and others and recognize when it is necessary to seek professional help.
A public discussion with professionals and volunteers from the rescue services and humanitarian practice will bring insight into the challenges that young people face today and the possibilities, how to build mental resilience. The discussion is intended especially for high school students, teachers and everyone who cares about the mental health of young people.
The event is also an introduction to an experiential workshop that will offer practical training in psychological resilience and the basics of psychological first aid.
Program: Discussion · Break · Workshop for students
The accompanying workshop is intended for high school students who want to learn how to build psychological resilience and what they can do for themselves and their surroundings in difficult life situations. The program is conducted in an experiential format: it will bring practical knowledge of the lecturers and exercises for the participants. The goal is to provide young people with a basic idea of their own potential to help themselves and others cope with difficult life situations as best as possible.
The workshop will be led by a team of experienced lecturers who have experience and theoretical knowledge in various areas of humanitarian work, including psychological first aid.
Martina Špániková
She is the director of the territorial association of the SČK in Dolný Kubín with territorial jurisdiction for the whole of Orava. At the same time, she works at the EDUKOS Consultation and Information Center in Dolny Kubín, where she conducted communication training for persons released from imprisonment. She pilot-verified the resocialization programs Employment and the Program for juveniles in institutions for serving imprisonment within the framework of the national project Chance to return, in which she also serves as a member of the steering committee. In the past, she taught at the Department of Social Work of the Catholic University in Ružomberok and worked at the Social Services Facility in Tvrdošín.
Vladimír Mrekaj
He worked as an independent professional inspector at the Regional Directorate of the Fire and Rescue Service in Žilina. As an inspector of the fire prevention department at OR HaZZ in Námestov, he simultaneously ensured crisis management and classified information as well as investigating the causes of fires. As a managing officer, he performed activities related to the management of serious events. In addition to the main focus on prevention, crisis management, investigation of the causes of fires and the activity of the commanding officer during extraordinary events, he also devoted himself to preventive and educational activities aimed at fire protection for children, youth and adults. In addition to his job, he is an active volunteer firefighter, and since 2017 he has been the chairman of the Orava fire brigade and at the same time a member of the Assembly of the DPO SR. He also transfers his experience gained from professional firefighters to volunteer fire brigades and since 2010 he has been the commander of the Beavers Volunteer Fire and Rescue Corps and at the same time from 2015 to 2025 he was the commander of the DHZ Orava rescue system (light special).
Daniel Kupka
He is dedicated to rescue and first aid. In the past, he worked as a firefighter, rescuer and fire alarm operator in Sučany. He is a member of the Slovak Red Cross, where he works as a trainer of psychological first aid, a crisis preparedness trainer, he is engaged in health supervision and lectures on first aid. At the same time, he coordinates a small group of volunteers - First Responders of the Operation Center of the Rescue Health Service in the village of Čierne and Skalité. The youngest of the team of lecturers, 20-year-old Daniel, who is an inspiration to many teenagers, says: "My goal is to help people and spread awareness about first aid and psychological first aid, because I believe that this knowledge can save life."
Lucia Faltinová (also in the role of moderator)
She has been working as a humanitarian worker and volunteer for years, with intervention experience in individual and mass crisis events. She is a senior trainer in the field of mental health at the Slovak Red Cross. Previously, she worked as a field worker in the Blue Angel crisis intervention team, and as a rescue dog handler. She worked with emigrants from Ukraine and abroad with people on the run from Africa and the Middle East. She lived in the USA for 3.5 years and o.i. she worked with children and women who experienced domestic violence. She spent 12 years in Great Britain. At the University of Cambridge, she worked with students with special educational needs and those experiencing difficult life situations.