Burgas will host a public debate on women's mental health and domestic violence on 7 December at 10:00, the Demetra Association says. The event will take place at the Centre for the Prevention of Violence and Crime at 9 Maria Luisa Boulevard.

The discussion is titled "Why doesn't she leave?" — the question women who have suffered violence hear most often. Organisers say "personal choice" is not a real answer, and they want the conversation to look at the psychological, social and financial reasons a woman stays in an abusive relationship. They plan to talk about fear, trauma, financial dependence, and how violence can shape a woman's mind and her decisions long after it happens.

Specialists, non-government groups, community representatives and local residents have been invited to help people better recognise the effects of violence.

The Burgas event is part of a nationwide project called "Sustainable local communities for women's health," run by the Bulgarian Platform of the European Women's Lobby. Similar discussions are being held in 8 towns across Bulgaria. Organisers will gather the ideas and proposals raised into recommendations for local and regional authorities, aiming for better policies and easier access to support.