As part of the 17th Days of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian American Academy of Arts and Sciences (BHAAAS), which will take place from June 4 to June 7, 2026, in Sarajevo, Dr. Davor Mucić, a BHAAAS member and an active participant in the symposium dedicated to mental health, will once again take part in the program. This year, his participation will also gain a special artistic dimension, as he will present a musical piece from his international project AYSHA at the conference opening ceremony. Through the fusion of science and art, this project addresses important social issues related to mental health, trauma, and support for victims of violence.
The AYSHA project was conceived as an interdisciplinary platform aimed at encouraging dialogue, strengthening prevention, and providing concrete forms of support through collaboration between experts in medicine, psychology, and the arts. Within this project, music, public discussions, and innovative healthcare support models become tools for social change and the destigmatization of mental health.
One of the central components of the project is an artistic campaign involving the production of ten original songs inspired by real patient experiences. These compositions explore themes of trauma, stigma, and recovery, as well as the strength and resilience of those who have gone through difficult experiences. A special place is given to the solidarity anthem “Lijepa Ajša” (Beautiful Ajša), dedicated to women victims of violence, which uses the universal language of music to convey messages of empathy, support, and courage.
The song brings together prominent artists from across the region, including Dado Topić, Vlado Kalember, Dejan Cukić, Knez, Bojana Stamenov, Sejo Sexon, Srđan Jevđević, Dragan Ristić Kal, Tina Vukov, Nuša Derenda, Ana Petan, Jura Pađen, Klapa Trogir, and the Corona Women’s Choir. The instrumental part features renowned musicians such as Aca Sofronijević, Ivan Aleksijević, and Duda Bezuha, while the recording process took place in several regional centers, including Sarajevo, Zagreb, Belgrade, and Skopje.
In addition to its musical segment, the AYSHA project also includes the organization of public forums and panel discussions involving psychiatrists, psychologists, artists, and individuals with lived experiences of trauma. These discussions open important conversations about recovery, social responsibility, and the importance of systemic support for survivors of violence.
A particularly important aspect of the project is the launch of a pilot telepsychiatry initiative in safe houses, aimed at providing accessible and timely psychiatric support to women during their stay in shelters. This model includes remote consultations with specialists, ensuring continuous mental health support during particularly sensitive periods of their lives.
The AYSHA project also builds on Dr. Mucić’s earlier international engagement, including the “Little Prince” project dedicated to children without parental care who were victims of war, which brought together more than one hundred artists from around the world. This further confirms his long-standing work connecting art, humanism, and mental health.
By including this project in the program of the 17th BHAAAS Days, the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to contemporary social challenges is further emphasized, as well as the role of the scientific and professional community in initiating initiatives that create real social impact.
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