During the Samen Veerkrachtig campaign, formerly known as the 10 Days of Mental Health, Oostende City is focusing on mental well-being, meeting, and connection. From October 1st to 10th, residents can participate in various activities designed to encourage reflection, movement, social interaction, and self-care, as well as care for one another.
Through these initiatives, the city aims to demonstrate that building resilience can be achieved in many ways. A walk, a cup of coffee or a warm bowl of soup in good company, a friendship bracelet, or a place to share your story: small actions can make a big difference. Samen Veerkrachtig encourages Oostende residents not only to care for their own well-being but also to be mindful of those around them. Because resilience grows when people find, support, and connect with each other.
Björn Pannecoucke, Alderman for Care & Well-being, emphasizes the importance of this approach: "Feeling good, that's what we work on together. Paying attention to our mental well-being and to the people around us is precisely why it's so important. With Samen Veerkrachtig, we want to show that small moments of connection, meeting, and caring for each other can make a big difference. Because when people feel seen, heard, and supported, they are stronger in life. As a city, we want to help create that environment where everyone finds space to build resilience."
Last year, a resilience walk was mapped out in Maria-Hendrikapark. This walk offers space for reflection and breathing exercises along the way. More information can be found at www.oostende.be/veerkrachtwandeling and via maps available at AZ Oostende, the UiTloket (City Hall), the library, and the community centers (OC's).
On October 1st, four guided walks will be organized in collaboration with the community centers, starting at 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 2:00 PM, and 3:30 PM. Afterwards, participants can enjoy a cup of coffee or hot chocolate at ’t Bosjoenk. AZ Oostende is also organizing a walk for its patients, emphasizing the importance of movement and mental resilience within the healthcare environment.
The campaign extends to assisted living facilities, where residents will distribute soup on October 5th to all residents and on October 8th to citizens near ’t Staketsel. This initiative promotes meeting and conversation. AZ Oostende will also serve soup on October 1st and 8th at campus Damiaan and on October 6th at campus Serruys, both at 10:30 AM.
From October 1st onwards, friendship bracelets will be distributed in the community centers as a symbol of connection and as an opportunity to initiate contact with others.
On October 9th, the new TEJO house in Oostende will open. TEJO offers young people accessible, professional, short-term therapeutic conversations, further strengthening the mental well-being services for youth in the city.
