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The World’s Largest Life-Affirming Event Raised Awareness About the Importance of Taking Care of Mental Health
Mental health is one of the main topics addressed by health agencies since the worsening of conditions related to emotional well-being (depression, anxiety, and syndromes) has been responsible for 100 thousand cases of suicide in the Americas every year, mainly among young people aged 15 to 29. This number was indicated by research by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which also reported that 80% of those suffering from psychological disorders do not receive the necessary care.
And it was with the aim of providing emotional care to young people that, on October 14th, the second edition of Mega HELP, an initiative of the HELP Project, promoted overcoming and valuing life in an event that brought together thousands of people in the 26 states of Brazil and its capital. Another 45 countries also joined the movement for the emotional well-being of young people.
Among the Brazilian locations, the states of Rio de Janeiro stood out, which brought together around 15 thousand people at the Marquês do Sapucaí, and São Paulo, which welcomed more than 30 thousand young people to the Sambódromo do Anhembi, all motivated to overcome their internal conflicts and transform their traumas into a story of hope and a new beginning.
“Listening, understanding, and helping” was the motto promoted by Mega HELP 2023. Bishop Celso Júnior, responsible for the HELP Project in Brazil, participated in the event in São Paulo and commented that it is possible to notice “that many do not have a good reference in their own home, they are depressed young people, who self-harm, who have thought about and even attempted suicide. And at Mega HELP, through a youthful and healthy platform, they are heard and not judged.”
To this end, hundreds of volunteers, many of whom have also faced and overcome similar problems, provided assistance at the Cantinho do Desabafo, a place reserved for each young person to vent, talk, and receive guidance. This space, already traditional at HELP, offers attention to young people who seek support and a place to talk about their emotional issues. One of the beneficiaries of the action is Talita Aparecida, who was at Mega HELP for the first time and received support from the volunteers. She shares her experience, “The HELP Project is a wonderful assistance where not only I, but other people who are going through similar or greater problems can find the help they are really looking for, in addition to learning how to overcome their problems.”
The event in São Paulo also included motivational activities, such as the ‘Escalada da Superação’ (a rappel customized exclusively for the occasion), and different cultural performances and attractions, such as the Banda FJU and the musical ‘E Se?,’ by the group Força Jovem Universal (also known as Youth Power Group).
In addition, a talent show among the educational institutions supported by the HELP Project shook the crowd. The competition, organized in partnership with the City of São Paulo, mobilized students from ten schools from different regions who performed singing, dancing, and band performances and were evaluated by a panel of judges formed by Record TV hosts Celso Zucatelli and Renata Alves, and by actor Dudu Pelizzari, who interprets Abner in the Kings TV Series. The Alcyr Oliveira Porciuncula State School was the big winner with the performance of an original song, which promoted the importance of taking care of mental health, and the central motto of the movement, which is, “I don’t judge you, I help you!”
A talk by writers Renato and Cristiane Cardoso also took place in São Paulo. They showed that the value of each young person is not conditioned by what society determines and that each person needs to understand their real value. They explained that those who do not understand their importance lose sight of their value and accept thoughts that say otherwise, even if it is not true.
Renato and Cristiane clarified that no one can be measured by what is said about them but only by what God does for each person. As Cristiane explained that the key to change is understanding. She invited the young people to put what they learned into practice and never allow others to nullify their value, which is defined by God.
During the event, volunteers from the HELP Project used their own stories of overcoming challenges to motivate those present. One of these volunteers is student Julia Eduarda, 18, who suffered traumas during her childhood and adolescence. A dysfunctional home, combined with the abuse she suffered, was enough to cause her to develop depression, anxiety, and panic disorder.
With many open wounds, Julia sought relief from her pain in the world of prostitution and addiction, but her problem became even worse with the death of her father and four other family members during the same period. “I was completely frustrated. I couldn’t see any solution, I thought it was the end and that there was no way to change the situation I was in,” she recalls.
However, the HELP Project showed her that her worth is greater than her pain and that it is possible to overcome the scars of the past. “The HELP Project made me understand that the strong are not those who think they are self-sufficient, but rather those who seek help. And that is how I turned the end into a new beginning,” she says.
Today, Julia experiences joy in life every day and as a volunteer for the HELP Project, she says that she has the opportunity to use her story of overcoming adversity as motivation for those who go through what she once went through. She also states that overcoming all these challenges is possible and doable for “all who give the HELP Project a chance, just like I did one day!”
To learn more about the Help Project and give yourself this opportunity, visit the official HELP Instagram page in the USA: instagram.com/help.ypg
Contributors:
Yasmin Lindo (Translated and Adapted From Original)
