Today, we continue to explore the collaborative network of Project Factor J, the first curriculum for Italian school promoted with Janssen Italia to educate youth to develop their emotional intelligence in relation to people who are suffering unease or illness. And we are doing it by providing visibility to the patient associations that hold educational sessions in schools.
“On many occasions, during our meetings, students have truly surprised us, demonstrating a good understanding of health issues. Their great curiosity is even more incredible. They have a concrete desire to learn more about certain issues, even at a technical-scientific level,” explains Leonardo Radicchi, President of the Italian Pulmonary Hypertension Association (AIPI). “The issues that I address on pulmonary hypertension are new to them and I’m always pleasantly surprised about their interest in the illness, its aspects and especially in the pathology-daily life and pathology-emotivity combinations.
Weakness, breathlessness and fainting are some of the symptoms of this not very well-known rare disease that affects blood vessels in the lungs, arterial pulmonary hypertension. This disease affects ca. 3000 people of all ages in Italy, but especially women. Understanding to recognise its symptoms is fundamental for an early diagnosis – on average, diagnoses come two years late – and its cure.
Leonardo Radicchi believes that it is important to propose a concept of “smart health” that young men and women can integrate into their daily lives, “with an eye to the emotional factor that is so important to them.”
We asked Leonardo to tell us about an episode or story that particularly struck him. “Once, I was speaking about how to get in touch with ourselves, with our deepest self, and a young woman asked me how I did this job. I told her that I looked in a mirror … right into my eyes … facing myself. About a month later, I was notified about a direct message on Instagram. She had written back to me, explaining how I had changed her life and she now felt unblocked. I cried.”
Has the opportunity of speaking with so many adolescents changed the way in which associations communicate? “Factor J has provided us with some interesting input on how to tell our story,” explains Leonardo. “Above all, however, it has influenced our management in paediatrics and led to the development of specific support programmes for children suffering from this illness who have to manage their school lives, or the professors who have to welcome these students.”
Leonardo tells us about how his job has changed over time. People are now more informed. They understand the pathology. They have heard about it and found information on-line. “While I once had to provide specific information on the illness, now there is great interest in its emotional aspects and daily life.”
“I have donated my life experience to Factor J, that’s all … and received a splendid lesson of integration and acceptance by these students. They are completely open to the concept of a pathology. They have truly opened up their souls.”
"Ho donato a Fattore J la mia esperienza di vita, nulla di più... ricevendo una splendida lezione di integrazione ed accoglienza da parte dei ragazzi, completamente aperti al concetto di patologia. Una vera e propria crescita nell'anima".
