• IFCCA magazine (februar 2026)

Stronger Together: Couples and IBD

From 28-30 November 2025, we organised our second Partner-Psychological Weekend for our members and their partners, the first edition having been held in 2023. The event was intended for younger couples, with an upper age limit of 40 years. Eight couples participated, and the event was organised by Mateja Saje, president of the Slovenian IBD Association (Društvo za kronično vnetno črevesno bolezen).

The program took place at Hotel Rogla in Rogla, Slovenia. The weekend began on Friday afternoon with hotel check-in, dinner, and introductory socialising. On Saturday, we welcomed Ms. Ingrid Plankar, an analytical psychotherapist, who led two workshops: The Art of Emotional Closeness in Partnerships with People with IBD and Factors Influencing Emotional Connection in Families with IBD Patients.

The workshops addressed topics such as the development of intimate relationships, friendship, fears that hinder communication in romantic partnerships, the process of choosing a partner, emotional stability and maturity, types of love, challenges in romantic relationships (with emphasis on IBD), emotions experienced by people with IBD, their expectations toward others, and the need for emotional sincerity in close relationships. The sessions included practical exercises, participant interaction, and the sharing of personal experiences.

In addition, participants had the opportunity to take part in sports activities, relax, and take a rest during the day. In the evening, we played board games in a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere.

On Sunday morning, we organised various games and challenges that required team spirit, cooperation, and ingenuity. Participants competed in two teams. After the winners were announced, participants evaluated the weekend. We concluded with lunch, after which many participants stayed for a while to continue socialising. They expressed their satisfaction with the weekend, the workshops, the organisation, and the interpersonal connectedness within the group.

• IFCCA magazine (maj 2026)

IBD Schools in Slovenia: Empowering People Through Education

At the Association for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in Slovenia (KVČB), we have been organising several Schools for People with IBD for our members every year since 2007 - nearly two decades of patient education. These are one - or multi-day events that include lectures and activities delivered by various experts, particularly healthcare professionals. We organise schools for children and parents, young people and adults, as well as one-day schools.

Schools for children and young people with IBD usually take the form of camps. For children we offer a variety of workshops, while for young people the focus, in addition to professional and educational content, is mainly on socialising and sharing experiences with peers.

Educational programmes for parents take the form of weekend workshops involving a range of experts such as paediatricians, psychologists, and dietitians. This year we will organise a seven-day summer camp for children.

Schools for adults have a step-by-step structure and last four days. Members first attend an introductory school, where they receive general information about IBD, their rights as patients, and employment issues.

After completing the introductory school, members can enrol in advanced schools or workshops that focus on specific aspects of the condition or living with it. This year we will be organising one introductory school and four advanced schools with workshops on extraintestinal manifestations, nutrition for people living with IBD, the importance of physical activity, and managing acute flare-ups of IBD.

We also organise workshops on communication between patients and doctors, coping with body image, pain management, characteristics of IBD in different life stages, complementary and alternative treatment, and employment within the Slovenian legal and institutional system.

The aim of these schools is to empower patients to become experts in managing their own condition so that they can participate more actively in their treatment and communicate more effectively with healthcare professionals and their social environment. The schools also provide an opportunity to meet others who face similar challenges in their lives.

• IFCCA magazine (oktober 2026)

IBD – More Than a Diagnosis: A New Booklet from Slovenia

On 5 September 2026 the Slovenian Association for IBD presented its new booklet, IBD – More Than a Diagnosis, at the Radeče Cultural Centre. The event offered an opportunity to introduce the publication, spend time together and thank those who support the association’s work.

Created to help people living with IBD understand their condition, the booklet presents a complex topic in an accessible and engaging way. It highlights the importance of early detection, discusses risk factors and provides information on disease management, while directing readers towards reliable, evidencebased healthcare resources.

Two mischievous characters representing Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis accompany readers throughout the booklet. They bring a playful element to the publication and help introduce its educational content.

The booklet also connects readers with interactive learning materials developed by the association over the years. These resources aim to support people living with IBD as they learn more about their condition and navigate the challenges of everyday life. Bringing these materials together offers readers an opportunity to explore topics further, at their own pace.

The publication was created as part of the programme Empowering People with IBD through Modern Media, co-funded by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Slovenia. Through this work, the association aims to make information more accessible and support people in taking an active role in understanding and managing their condition.

The electronic version of IBD – More Than a Diagnosis is available on the Slovenian Association website: https://buff.ly/xKtZdGj.

• World IBD day Report 2026

The Slovenian IBD Association (KVČB) marked World IBD Day 2026 with a fullday programme in Celje on 23 May, combining education, public awareness and community activities.

The day began at Narodni Dom with a professional lecture on modern IBD treatment and the “Purple Perspective” round table, which brought together patients, relatives and healthcare professionals to discuss quality of life, mental health and the everyday challenges of living with IBD.

The association then took its awareness activities into the community with an information stand at Citycenter Celje, where volunteers spoke with visitors and distributed educational materials. The programme continued with social and sporting activities involving members of the association’s regional sections.

The day concluded with the symbolic illumination of Celje Castle in purple, joining landmarks around the world in showing solidarity with people living with IBD.

Mateja Saje