World Mental Health Day: students meet experts with Fattore J
Over a thousand students logged on this morning to a webinar with mental health experts and healthcare professionals, which provided a lively forum for discussion on the difficulties associated with the spread of conditions such as anxiety and depression: a special event ahead of World Mental Health Day (10 October). It was organised by Fondazione Mondo Digitale and Johnson & Johnson for the fifth edition of Fattore J. It was a special moment to reiterate that mental health is an essential part of every person's well-being, especially for adolescents, who today are growing up in a world that is often too complex, fast-paced and hyper-connected. The students, enrolled in secondary schools, came from all over Italy, in particular: Liceo economico sociale Piccolomini (Siena), Liceo Felicia e Peppino Impastato (Palermo), Liceo Scientifico Nitti (Naples), Istituto Maserati di Voghera (Pavia), Istituto Carlo Urbani (Rome), Liceo Don Milani- Da Vinci (Bari), Istituto Majorana (Palermo).
From the outset, there was a strong awareness that cultivating healthy relationships with adults and peers is the only way to break down the walls of isolation: 'Never stop seeking dialogue with adults. Even in a critical sense. It is essential that there is always dialogue and that you do not isolate yourselves, convinced that you have different points of view. Stay with others, acquire more and more culture, because culture gives rise to minds," urged Sergio De Filippis, psychiatrist, medical and scientific director of Villa Von Siebenthal, Genzano di Roma, coordinator of the GH Group Psychiatry.
The young people responded very well to the appeal, showing a great desire to connect with those most at risk. This was demonstrated by the questions they asked the experts during the meeting: some asked what the signs are for recognising that a person is going through a difficult period from a mental health perspective, and what can be done in practical terms to help them. However, there is still a sense of stigma attached to mental illness: one girl asked how to talk openly about mental health without fear of being judged or misunderstood. Many young people are well aware of the importance of the role of the educational community: “Don't you think that an advanced course on student mental health should be introduced for teachers within the school?”, “Why is there never any talk about the level of competitiveness that demoralises students?” These were other issues that emerged during the morning.
Elio Rosati, regional secretary of Cittadinanzattiva Lazio and member of the Regional Observatory on the Economic Impact of Regional Laws, positively reinforced the role of young people in society: 'They will tell you that you are the worst generation. Don't believe them, because you are the future. But you also have a responsibility to build it and, above all, to live it as protagonists through the community and information. Be active citizens. Ask questions. Because questions give rise to relationships and communities grow. Have the courage to inform yourselves, because those who have more information have more power."
The Fattore J project was created precisely to offer young people an authentic space for listening and discussion, to talk to experts, share experiences and understand that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Alessandra Baldini, Country Medical Affairs Director at Johnson & Johnson Italia, reminded us: "The future of health is built together, and you will certainly be key players thanks to your curiosity, ideas and willingness to get involved. Fattore J is extremely dear to me because it talks about science, which I have been passionate about since I was a child: I dreamed about it, I studied it and then I turned this passion into my job as Medical Director of Johnson&Johnson Innovative Medicine Italia. J&J has had a strong presence in the field of mental health for over 60 years. The founder of the pharmaceutical division of Johnson&Johnson is Paul Janssen, a great doctor, researcher and scientist. He had a brother with schizophrenia and a strong personal motivation that drove his research into neuroscience, one of the therapeutic areas at the heart of our mission. We realise how debilitating these conditions are and how much still needs to be done to combat prejudice and social stigma. That is why it is so important to talk about them, to diagnose them early and to take preventive action'.
Elisa Amorelli, communications, institutional relations and social marketing coordinator at Fondazione Mondo Digitale ETS, said goodbye with the following words: 'Today is the last stage of a journey that has raised awareness among thousands of students over the past five years. The Foundation believed in this project right from the start because our mission is to spread knowledge. And Fattore J has allowed us to make school a place where you can learn to understand the importance of health and prevention, but above all where you can take care of yourself and others. If we are well, healthy, with ourselves and with others, we can do anything in life."
