Paramos ir pagalbos bendrija buvo įkurta 1997 metais po to, kai Rita Prasmickienė išvertė anglų kalba išleistą knygelę, kurioje Anglijoje gyvenanti agorafobija serganti Janet Sarkar moko, kaip nugalėti savo baimes, kaip elgtis priepuolių metu. Knygelėje suradusi autorės adresą, buvusi anglų kalbos mokytoja nusprendė parašyti jai laišką. Taip ji susidraugavo su likimo drauge iš kitos valstybės. 1997 metų vasaros pradžioje viešėjo pas ją Anglijoje. Nors dauguma agorafobija sergančių žmonių paniškai bijo skristi lėktuvu, R. Prasmickienė sakė tos baimės nejaučianti. Janet Sarkar yra įkūrusi agorafobinio ryšio liniją, leidžia nedidelius leidinėlius ligoniams, dalijasi informacija.

Santrauka iš “Evening News” laikraščio, 1997 metai.

Janet gets boost from the Baltic

by CATHERINE JONE

Evening News

“A ST John's woman who suffers from agoraphobia is to see her book on the illness published in Lithuania.

Janet Sarkar, who runs the Agoraphobic Link Line from her home in Margaret Road, hopes to see a similar project set up in the Baltic State.

The 64-year-old grandmother is currently playing host to Lithuanian Rita Prasmickienė who decided to translate the book, Agoraphobia, Anxiety and Panic Attacks, after suffering from agoraphobia herself.

The book is being published in Lithuanian and Russian, and the costs are being paid by Hull-based firm Humber Marine Services Ltd.

It will be launched by the company, together with British ambassador Tom Macan, at Vilnius University Hospital in October.

Of the country's 3.7 m population, an estimated 20,000 suffer from illnesses associated with agoraphobia, depression and panic attacks.

Rita, 57, a former English teacher, was admitted to hospital seven times with symptoms doctors put down to heart attacks and high blood pressure.

It was only when she was seen by psychiatrist Dr Gintautas Daubaras that her real illness was diagnosed.”

Janet Sarkar, pictured with Lithuanian translator and fellow agoraphobia suffere Rita Prasmickiene. Picture by Roy Booker.