Intersectional Self-help

DISHES Depression & Intersectionality: Self-help Safe Space

Get in touch with Li via [email protected]

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<aside> <img src="/icons/clock_gray.svg" alt="/icons/clock_gray.svg" width="40px" /> 2nd and 4th Thursday each month 7 pm – 9 pm: beginning 25 May 2023

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Depression comes in many forms. Chronic unitary depression, recurring phases of depression, depression caused or compounded by other mental illnesses, depression caused by severe life-altering events, the list goes on. We’re here because we understand how you feel. We’ve also understood that learning about our own experience, and the experiences of others, builds connections both between humans and between neurons in our brains. Meeting, speaking, listening, and sharing are a healthy, often fun, sometimes, difficult, usually rewarding way to cope.

We do this first and foremost by channeling our empathy into a group of like-minded individuals. This, in turn, gives each of us more than we came with and makes life—which is difficult in and of itself—more comfortable, if just a tiny bit. If you have no prior self-help or therapeutic experience, and no friends or family you speak to openly, we trust that you will find being in an accepting, understanding, safe space will be refreshing. We—including you—are creating and occupying this space together. There’s an authenticity here that is often lost in chaotic everyday life and the performative systems of society.

If this is new for you, or you are in a particularly bad place, this will be a big step for you that seems difficult to take. You’re doing so much work already, just by having found and reading this text. We aim to make entry into our group as accessible as possible for everyone. Many self-help groups in Berlin use German as their main language. We specifically do not, under the assumption that many English-speaking people in Berlin also need and want help. And help exists, be assured.

In addition to speaking English, we intend to do our absolute best to accommodate people who experience discrimination, including intersectional discrimination. We are feminist, anti-racist, anti-ableist, and queer. We do not tolerate rejecting stances towards social justice. BIPoC, QTBIPoC (Queer*Trans; Black/Indigenous/People of Color), disabled, neurodivergent, and queer people are expressly welcome in our group and we ask everyone not affected by an axis of oppression to speak less, and listen more.

You will have space here, to speak as little, and as much—within reason—as you are comfortable and need. Usually, we start with introductions, if there are new people present, and a brief insight into your current emotional state. If you wish, you are free to share something that’s on your mind, that you would like more input on. We understand that introductions and speaking in groups does not come easy to everyone, especially to people who face discrimination or suffer from depression. You’re welcome to keep it as short as you like. It’s absolutely valid to just state a name you like to be addressed with, your pronouns, and a single word to describe your mood. Additions are welcome, never expected or required.

<aside> <img src="/icons/map-pin-alternate_gray.svg" alt="/icons/map-pin-alternate_gray.svg" width="40px" /> SEKIS in Charlottenburg Bismarckstraße 101, 10625 Berlin entrance at Weimarer Straße by Bus Bismarckstr./Leibnizstr. (level) or U Deutsche Oper (stairs)

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<aside> <img src="/icons/wheelchair-access_gray.svg" alt="/icons/wheelchair-access_gray.svg" width="40px" /> 5th floor, accessible via elevator without steps wheelchair-accessible bathroom in the lower floor, for which we have a key

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We meet at SEKIS in Charlottenburg. You will find us on the 5th floor, accessible without steps by elevator. The address is Bismarckstr. 101, 10625 Berlin. The door is located on the side of the building, leading into Weimarer Str., use the doorbell to open the door. The bathroom upstairs is narrow, but there is a wheelchair-accessible bathroom in the lower floor of the building (via elevator), for which we have a key.

If this sounds good to you and you’re interested in taking a step for yourself to meet with us, do send an email to [email protected]. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.