The World Health Organisation defines health as 'a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity'. As with physical health, mental health is an indispensable component of a person's well-being. It underpins the human capacity to think, feel, learn, work, form deep relationships and contribute to the community and the world at large.
So mental health is an integral part of health of the whole person.
The Covid-19 pandemic has only helped to increase the mental distress of young people. One of the proposals made in the planning of the Youth Ministry Sector is precisely the accompaniment and qualification of Salesians and lay people to accompany young people.
"Embarking on the path of Educational-Pastoral Animation, we are faced with questions which are not easy to answer. The greater the pastoral charity that moves us in this exciting task, the greater the challenge to incarnate the pastoral mission of the Congregation in the concrete, singular reality of that world," says Fr Miguel Ángel García Morcuende, General Councillor for Salesian Youth Ministry.
In the Gospel, we see a mentally ill person "sitting at the feet of Jesus", just like other disciples. Jesus speaks to him and he listens, understands and accepts his message. Jesus shows him God's love and he experiences it. We even see the sick person raise a prayer of praise, "telling others the wonders of God".
"How we long to 'know how to do' and 'help to do' all of this today!" concludes Fr García Morcuende.
The scheduling of these webinars is therefore a concrete response. Thanks to these discussions with specialists in the field, it will be possible to reflect on the needs of the most fragile people and their psychological vulnerability.
Further these webinars aim:
to work for the promotion of young people's psychological well-being; to address the issues of stigma and discrimination; to learn about the subject in order to intercept discomfort and offer support in educational contexts; to recommend targeted interventions for people at risk; and to develop and implement measures to reduce preventable causes of mental health problems, co-morbidity and suicide.
The webinars will take place on 12, 13, 15, 19 and 21 March 2024, and will be offered in two different time slots to facilitate participation by all (8:00 a.m. - UTC+1 in English; 6:00 p.m. - UTC+1, in Italian, English, Spanish, French and Portuguese).
This initiative is aimed at teachers, educators, animators and Salesians involved in all sectors (schools and Vocational Training Centres, oratories, youth centres, parishes, social works, universities, etc.) and in Salesian-inspired organisations. Animated by qualified specialists from various experts in the field, these webinars will address various topics such as: eating disorders, mental health of migrants and refugees, youth depression, bullying and, finally, self-destructive behaviour and suicide.
For further information, see the attached documents at the bottom of the page.
