I am Ljubica Tasić Kennedy (39) from Belgrade, a systemic family psychotherapist practicing in Novi Sad and Belgrade. I work with families experiencing crises, trauma, behavioral difficulties in children, and various forms of social vulnerability, as well as with marginalized groups through my engagement with NSHC. In my work, I often meet parents and caregivers who, despite carrying a heavy emotional burden, lack access to the information, support, and education they need to understand their children’s needs and cope with their own challenges. This motivated me to become one of the founders of ROOT, an organization dedicated to improving mental health, strengthening parenting capacities, and supporting vulnerable groups. At ROOT, we develop parent education programs, youth-focused initiatives, and community-based projects that integrate psychotherapy, social inclusion, and systemic thinking. More recently, my focus has shifted toward protecting the mental health of professionals in the helping fields. I witness increasing levels of burnout, a blurring of personal and professional roles, and heightened risks associated with working in prolonged socio-economic crisis. Existing forms of support are often financially inaccessible, while growing social polarization raises concerns about professional safety, freedom of expression, and ethical transparency. Through my participation in the HRL Program, I hope to strengthen my advocacy skills, expand my network of collaborators, and develop sustainable models of support for both families and helping professionals – linking mental health, human rights, and social justice.
