The psychological enlightenment festival "I AM NEAR" will take place in Nizhny Novgorod.

      On June 3, 2026, at 1:57 PM, Society will host a psycho-educational festival-dialogue "I AM NEAR" (16+), dedicated to issues of mental health, social adaptation, and inter-agency cooperation in the field of psychiatric assistance. The festival is organized by the Nizhny Novgorod regional branch of the All-Russian Public Organization of Disabled People "New Opportunities," the Nizhny Novgorod Regional Information Center (NOIC), and the House of National Unity. The event is conducted with the participation of relevant ministries, medical, and public organizations.

      The festival will bring together specialists from the social sphere, medicine, education, culture, media, and representatives of the non-profit sector. The main goal is to increase knowledge about psychiatric assistance, reduce the stigmatization of mental disorders, and develop cooperation between various services and organizations.

      The program includes lectures and training sessions dedicated to issues of diagnosis, support, and social integration of people with mental characteristics. For instance, psychiatrist Daria Petrova will give a lecture titled "How the Right Diagnosis in Psychiatry Changes a Person's Life," while psychiatrist and psychotherapist Maria Denisienko will discuss practices for overcoming stigmatization in the community of people with mental disorders.

      The central event of the festival will be the premiere of the documentary film "I AM NEAR." The film is dedicated to Nizhny Novgorod families who have relatives with mental disorders. The authors showcase the stories of people who continue to live, work, and engage in creativity despite their diagnosis, as well as discuss opportunities for socialization and support. The film was created in 2026 by the staff of the media group "NOIC" with the support of the Ministry of Health of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

      The festival events will begin on June 3 at 2:00 PM at the House of National Unity located at: Belinsky St., 9B. The schedule of events for the Psycho-Educational Festival-Dialogue "I AM NEAR" can be found at vk.ru/wall-152974341_1471. Registration for the Psycho-Educational Festival: forms.yandex.ru/cloud/6a05bb0895add50ff57a3fbe/

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