The Clérigos Tower will turn teal this weekend: the reason and the cause

The Clérigos Tower is one of Porto’s ex-libris; and on October 19 (Sunday) it promises to become a symbol of a good cause. The Porto monument will be lit up in teal, not for aesthetic reasons, but to raise awareness of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

In a statement sent to our newsroom, POCDF – POC Doentes e Família, a non-profit association, said it had decided to join OCD Awareness Week (October 13-19) to shine a light on a cause that is expected to affect one in 20 Portuguese. In addition to Porto, the initiative also involves actions in Greater Lisbon.

The ‘silent struggle’ of more than half a million

According to information from POCDF – POC Patients and Family, it is estimated that more than 540,000 Portuguese suffer from POC. But what is it? It’s a serious and chronic mental health condition that involves:

• Obsessions: intrusive and uncontrollable thoughts
• Compulsions: repetitive behaviors that the person feels they have to perform

The figures are ‘shocking’, as at least half a million Portuguese suffer from CP. Even worse is the average time taken for diagnosis, which can take more than 12 years.

Blue: the color of commitment

These lights represent hope and solidarity. The blue light is our symbol of empathy and commitment to all people living with POC who deserve dignified treatment and understanding,” says Miguel Marques, co-founder of POCDF.

Dates and locations to remember

As part of this initiative, here are the dates and locations that will be lit up in teal:

• Oeiras Town Hall – October 15, already taken place
• Cristo, Almada – October 17, 18 and 19
• Clérigos Tower – October 19th