Bosnian Dream
PROJECT
Creating a comfortable and safe conversation regarding Bosnian Mental Health and resources.
MISSION
STATEMENT
ABOUT THE
FOUNDER
My name is Lejla Šehić, I’m 17 years old and a senior at Mehlville High School. I plan on going to the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, Missouri to major in Biochemistry and minor in Psychology. I began this project in my College Composition class.
I had lost my Father to suicide on August 5th, 2023. Since then I’ve been battling grief, anxiety, and depression to an extent I’ve never been exposed to before. My Father was one of the most important people in my life, and losing him felt like losing a part of myself.
My Father’s story was complex and saddening, however, throughout my exploration of grief, I’ve decided to take this grief and put it into a more proactive cause. I now want to share my Father’s story. To reassure those struggling with mental health, suicidal thoughts, PTSD, and alcoholism.
Behind
THE CAUSE
Fadil Šehić was born on March 12th, 1968 in Klašnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina to Osman and Zarfa Šehić. He was the second oldest of six siblings. He grew up alongside his family, while maintaining his families farm land as well as going to school. At the age of 16, he was enlisted into the Bosnian Army, which resulted in him leaving home. In 1992, he just freshly turned 24, soon after began the ethnic cleansing of Bosnian Muslims also known as the Bosnian Genocide.
He fought in the war throughout most of it’s duration. However, in 1995, there was a rising death toll of Bosnians. He decided that it was no longer safe to fight when there was a lack of weapons and resources to defend themselves from their oppressors.
He decided to escape Žepa, from which he ran towards the borders of Serbia after hearing of the rising hostility in Srebrenica. As he approached the Serbian border, he and nearly 400 other men hid in the forests of Bosnia to ensure a safe escape. In July of 1995, Fadil and 400 other men were captured by the Yugoslavian Army and were taken to the Šljivovica concentration camp that was being ran by Serbian soldiers. For nearly a year, 400 inmates were brutally tortured, starved, and beaten on a daily basis. After being incarcerated by the Serbian Army for nearly a year, he and those that survived alongside him were rescued by the Red Cross. Shortly after, he immigrated to Bridgeport, Connecticut to start a new life.
With no time to process the trauma that he had undergone, he quickly immersed himself into multiple jobs with an English Language learning class late at night. He was a hard and persistent worker that kept trying to survive. Shortly after his arrival to the U.S, he met Amela Mujkic, who would become his wife just a few years later. Together they had one daughter, Lejla. As he settled into his new life, the aftermath of it all began to settle in. PTSD came back to haunt him more and more each day. He began abusing alcohol as a form of self medication. He was a strong avoidant when it came to talking about his struggles with mental health. His struggle with addiction, mental health, depression, and PTSD ultimately led him to take his own life on August 5th, 2023.
UNPACKING
THE ISSUE
FEAR OF JUDGEMENT
SELF MEDICATION
FACTORS
LACK OF TRUST
PRIVACY
LOSS OF HOPE
EMBARASSMENT
TAKING
CHARGE
To the Bosnian Youth, there is such a deeply engraved disbelief in the effects of mental health within our society. In case no one has told you, I believe you. I believe that you are struggling, and I believe that you deserve the grace and help that you need.
I’m one small leaf on the great tree of life, and I believe there is room for evolution and growth. The best start to any solution is conversation. This is my goal for the Bosnian Dream Project, is to generate conversation. To shed visibility on those who have felt belittled by their very own. Your mental health and wellbeing matters, don’t let anyone deny you that.
ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
800-662-HELP (4357)
National Suicide Hotline
988