Every Emotion Has a Value: Celebrating World Mental Health Day

On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, our three campuses came together for a special initiative: an interactive activity designed to engage our entire school community of students, teachers, and staff in a shared moment of reflection.

On the school’s glass walls, we wrote with colorful markers a sentence that carries a universal message:

“Every emotion holds a value. Write what made you feel good during a difficult time.”

From that moment, the windows turned into a collective dialogue made of words, colors, and emotions. An open space where anyone could leave a mark: a thought, a memory, a small gesture of comfort.

Within a few hours, the transparent surfaces became a vibrant mural: a mosaic of authentic experiences telling what truly helps us get through challenging times.
Some wrote that thinking positively helps them overcome difficult days; others shared how teachers are always ready to listen and offer support. Some find peace in playing the piano or listening to music, while others feel safe in a friend’s hug or the company of their dog.
And then there were simple words, the ones that make you smile because they speak of real life: “smelling pizza,” “watching Harry Potter,” “travelling,” “asking for help,” “smelling flowers.”

Today, youth mental health is one of the most significant and complex challenges of our time. Students live in a world that changes rapidly, where social pressures and expectations can become overwhelming. Talking about emotional well-being is not just important, it is essential.

With this activity, we wanted to create a space for listening and awareness, where each person could share what gives them strength in difficult moments. Not to seek immediate solutions — because mental health journeys require time, attention, and, when needed, professional support — but to recognize the value of taking care of oneself, even through small daily actions.

Our students’ words remind us that there is no single way to feel better: for some, it is friendship; for others, creativity, family, or simply the courage to say “today I’m not okay.”
These gestures don’t solve everything, but they open a path — one of dialogue, trust, and mutual support.

Celebrating World Mental Health Day means exactly this: giving space to emotions, breaking the silence, building community. Because mental health is not just a personal matter, it concerns all of us. And every word, every color on those windows reminds us that no one should face their challenges alone.