NOTE: This group accepts sign-ups via email. Once our first meeting date is determined, you will see the date here and be informed via email. This will likely be in May 2023.
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, antiableist,
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 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.
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 queere.berlinerin@gmail.com. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.