End-user focus and individualized approach are the hallmarks of all of Terra’s programs and are what encourage Terra’s team to continue their education and capacity building to respond to their needs. Through its many years of activity, the Terra Association achieves its area of ​​activity through 3 basic strategic goals:

Promotion and protection of mental health in the community with focus on Rijeka

Good mental health is an integral part of the general health and wellbeing of the population and contributes to the quality of functioning of individuals, families and communities. Recent EU documents refer to mental health as a precondition for the social and economic development of  society. Accordingly, it is the role of decision-makers and the responsibility of the various assisting professions to act on the social determinants that affect the mental health of citizens.

Since its inception, Terra has been implementing projects aimed at protecting and promoting the mental health of all groups of society with free support from experts trained in individual and family counseling.

Since 2004, the Gea Counseling Center has been operating within the association. At the Counseling Center, psychoeducation, counseling and psychotherapy work on the principles of systemic therapy empower individuals and families facing the challenge of dealing with psychological difficulties and provide context for developing a relationship of trust through accessibility and individuality in access. Such an approach contributes to the preservation and promotion of mental health and contributes to the prevention of development of chronic mental illness.

Reduction of harms related to drug consumption and risky sexual behaviors

Drug abuse and the consequent disease of addiction is one of the most negative social phenomena that has long-term adverse health and social effects on the individual, family and society as a whole. Drug addicts are vulnerable to various forms of stigma and social exclusion. Therefore, activities are needed to achieve equal status for these persons in all spheres of social life. Endangering human rights favors the spread of HIV/AIDS and other blood and sexually transmitted diseases, which poses a public health risk to people who do not consume drugs. These are affected by poverty, high unemployment, delinquency, criminality and the lack of preventive health and other education. Therefore, harm reduction programs, known worldwide as Harm reduction, are essential.

It is evident from world and domestic experience that harm reduction programs are useful and effective when applied continuously and appropriately. Focusing measures on populations that are prone to risky behaviors produces the best results because it concentrates where it is most needed, and the measures taken are tailored to the specific needs and capabilities of members of those populations. Since 2001, Terra has implemented a program to reduce the health and social consequences of drug use, intended for intravenous addicts and other at-risk groups.

Increasing the scope of social support for marginalized community groups

Terra has been working with excluded and marginalized groups since its inception. In order to achieve its goals, Terra is constantly improving projects based on monitoring the daily life problems and needs of marginalized groups and the social needs and economic constraints of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County area. Under-represented groups are constantly exposed when it comes to achieving their rights and are at risk of social and professional marginalization. They need support, encouragement and assistance to overcome the difficulties of socialization and improve the quality of life and inclusion in society as a responsible and equal citizens.

Through its projects, Terra seeks to support all marginalized groups by providing information, education and counseling to encourage social inclusion.

Ongoing projects: