This presentation explores a case study of initiatives aimed at supporting the psychological well-being of residents in a small rural municipality in southern Poland, where access to psychological assistance and institutional protection against domestic violence is significantly limited due to transportation exclusion, staffing shortages, and poor availability of specialized services.
The presentation will examine the functioning of a local interinstitutional support network that includes a non-governmental organization, the municipal social welfare center, schools, the police, and the family court. It will demonstrate how cross-sector collaboration, despite limited resources, can effectively contribute to improving the psychological well-being of individuals experiencing domestic violence and their families. The session will also present practical tools, solutions, and challenges encountered in psychological practice in rural areas.
The topic is situated within the framework of psychological flourishing viewed through a biopsychosocial lens, highlighting the importance of systemic responses to violence, trauma, and mental health crises. Special attention will be given to the role of psychological assistance as a factor enhancing both individual and community resilience.
The presented case may serve as an inspiration for practitioners and policymakers in other parts of the world facing similar challenges, such as a shortage of specialists, spatial isolation, and limited access to professional support. This presentation also contributes to the broader discussion of what “flourishing” means in communities struggling with violence and systemic inequality in access to care.