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✨ Ruum Meile #8 • Does Activism Light Us Up or Burn Us Out?

Discussion circle for LGBT+ people and allies about activism and mental health

Event artwork: ✨ Ruum Meile #8 • Does Activism Light Us Up or Burn Us Out?

In short

Ruum Meile is a series of gatherings created by Vikerteraapia Mõttekoda for LGBT+ people and allies. This eighth event is a discussion circle about how activism can support mental health, give life meaning, and also lead to burnout and compassion fatigue. The evening is led by Laura Barbo and Joelle Marcelle Antson, with guest speakers sharing their experiences.

Participation in the exercises is voluntary, and the evening will be in Estonian or English depending on participants' needs.

Summary by Eventeeka from the organizer’s announcement. The original text follows below.

19 November 2026, Thursday · 17:30–21:00 · From €5 · EN

Kartul, Kopli tänav 16, 10412 Tallinn, Harju maakond ↗

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✨ Ruum meile #8

Do you long for a community where you can simply belong just as you are?

Ruum meile (A Space for Us) is a series of gatherings created by Vikerteraapia Mõttekoda (Rainbow Therapy Think Tank) to support LGBT+ people and allies. It's a space where we can co-create a sense of community, where time can slow down and the soul can find room to breathe.

Together, we look inward with curiosity — learning to listen to our bodies, to honor our boundaries, and to recognize the wisdom that already lives within us.

Because the best thing we can do for our mental wellbeing is to stay connected — to ourselves and to each other. 🌿

The eighth event in the series focuses on the role of activism in supporting and undermining mental health. In this discussion circle, we’ll explore how activism can bring meaning to our life and support mental health, as well as how it can lead to burnout and compassion fatigue, and how to avoid these pitfalls.

The evening will be led by the think tank’s founders, psychologist Laura Barbo and somatic coach Joelle Marcelle Antson, and the following guests will share their experiences:

Laura works as a psychologist at the Papaver Center and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology-counseling from Arden University. In addition, she has long been involved in experiential counseling, fostering cohesion within the LGBT+ community, and exploring the complexities of human psychology. Laura wrote her bachelor’s thesis on minority stress and the experiences of Estonian LGBT+ people with mental health professionals.

Joelle is a somatic coach and bodyworker at the Strozzi Institute, a restorative justice trainer, and a Imago Relationship Therapy educator. She supports LGBT+ and neurodivergent people and women in embodying their authentic truth. Additionally, she organizes queer-only cuddle and play parties. In her work, Joelle combines politicized somatics, restorative justice, and systemic family and relationship therapy.

Sara Barbo is an ethnographilosopher who studies how trans rights and animal advocacy activists seek a balance between what’s possible and what’s necessary. As an activist, she didn’t find it and got burnt instead.

Anette Mäletjärv is a Tallinn city councilor, DJ, and human rights activist who, due to their ADHD, has managed to burn out in three different roles: as a student, as a professional LGBT+ activist, and as an advisor to the Minister of Health. They have no intention of burning out again—three times is quite enough.

Participation in the exercises is always voluntary, which means that everyone can choose whether and how deeply they want to participate.

Depending on the needs and preferences of the participants, the evening will be in Estonian or in English. Let us know about your language preferences when registering.

🕯 When and Where

📅 November 11, 5:30 PM–9:00 PM

📍Kartul (Kopli tn 16)

We'll start with the discussion at 6:00 p.m. Before that you can order some drinks or delicious vegan food from Kartul.

Since space is limited, please register by November 16 at the latest by purchasing a ticket from Fienta (0–25 €). 💜

✨ See you soon!

Vikerteraapia mõttekoda

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