The inspiring Mladí Mladým (Young to Young) conference has been an integral part of our town for more than 6 years. The idea for the conference was born in the heads of a group of young people in 2016, and its aim is to inspire young people with the stories of other young people who are not afraid to step out of their comfort zone and change the world. The conference themes have varied each year – once it was victory, another time “towards success with values”…

This year’s conference theme was different, one that is not talked about so often or so loudly. We talked about the SOUL.

A human being is a unique creature, often mysterious or quirky. They get lost in their own feelings, are afraid to talk about them, often look for answers, lose themselves in thoughts and remain completely alone. Why is that? Because, for various reasons, we are not used to talking openly about how we feel.

But we young people, just like you, are not indifferent to it. We want HOW WE ARE DOING to be talked about out loud, without shame and without fear of ridicule or judgement.

That is why the theme of this year’s conference #Mladí Mladým was mental health and well-being. Six inspiring young people shared with us their story, personal experience, work or tireless will to help and to SPEAK OUT loud!

What is hiding behind the door? 

That is one of the questions of a person considering a visit to a psychologist. What it looks like at a first meeting with a psychologist or psychiatrist was explained to us by clinical psychologist Matej Herman and his colleague, psychiatrist Matúš Virčík, who work at the Psychiatric Hospital in Michalovce. Matej and Matúš also told us what the statistics on mental health in Slovakia look like and what treatment methods for mental disorders used to be (e.g. pouring water over the head or spinning a person around their axis in a wooden crate), when doctors hoped this would help the person. Our guests also gave us an insight into the worries they most often meet in patients and when it is necessary to seek out a professional. 

O záber ľahšia (A Frame Lighter)

Alica, a young girl with a powerful story and the strength of a dragon. But also the author of two breathtaking projects based on her own life experience. One of them is the exhibition O záber ľahšia (A Frame Lighter) – a tool for healing the soul through photography. It consists of autobiographical shots that show the world what life with anxiety is like. The other is A Plaster for the Soul – a visual aid – a plaster-shaped tattoo with an encouraging word that urges people to take care of their mental health. Alica is a beautiful example of the fact that when life gives her lemons, she makes lemonade. She found her way out of her difficulties through art and, as she says, even though it wasn’t easy, you shouldn’t give up. 

You can only help someone who wants to accept your help!

Another guest was Sabra – a recent secondary school graduate and future university student, for whom the topic of mental health is not a matter of indifference. Together with a friend, during the pandemic Sabra set up an Instagram account where she offered young people informal help when they were feeling low. She gave them her time, listened to them and tried in this way to help them solve their difficulties. In the first 20 minutes after the account was launched, as many as 6 people asked for help by message, which shows that the topic of mental health is extremely relevant and deserves attention. For Sabra, and for us too, every individual matters and deserves to be heard and supported when they need it most. With a little empathy we can help one another, but as Sabra said, we can only help those who want help. In the end Sabra encouraged the listeners not to be afraid to talk about their feelings and so to take care of themselves.

Mental literacy – easy to write, hard to work with!

The fourth inspiring speaker was Matej Adam – a young 17-year-old student at LEAF Academy in Bratislava and co-founder of the project inako. Matej Adam, as the son of a therapist, grew up with the topic of mental health, so to speak and that is why he stayed true to it during secondary school too. As part of the subject entrepreneurial leadership in 2020 he co-founded the project inako, which deals with connecting mental health and young people and, mainly through Instagram, tries to destigmatise this topic among them. Besides that, at his school he is involved in peer counselling, serving as emotional support for his peers. In his talk , besides himself, his interests and how the project works, he also presented the state of mental health in Slovakia. He described the stereotypes and stigmas that are rooted in us and the problems connected with this topic, such as finances, poor availability of medical help or weak mental literacy, which includes not only theoretical knowledge about mental difficulties but above all the ability to act in support of the mental health of oneself and others. He sees the solution in change, both systemic and social. 

The journey matters more than the summit!

Soňa, a young woman with the heart of an adventurer. A ski mountaineer, climber and nature lover. The last speaker of the day, who told us stories from mountain summits. Not only those in the Tatras, but also in Norway and the Alps. Life in the mountains is completely different from life down below. Quiet, mysterious, yet modest and enriching. The problems of everyday life cease to exist there. But when a person comes back from it, they value what they have in life, even an ordinary toilet. Every moment, every decision can affect a person’s life. That was also the case for Soňa and her friends during a ski-touring ascent in the Tatras, when one crack significantly changed their lives. An avalanche swept them away. Fortunately they all survived the fall of more than 450 metres, but not without injuries. A long process of healing a broken spine, grazed legs and months of rehabilitation followed. But neither Soňa nor her friends gave up; they healed their injuries and returned to the mountains, or rather HOME, as she herself would say. In closing, she added that we should not forget to listen to our feelings, because they can protect us from danger and trouble.

This year’s conference was different. It was full of strong, inspiring personalities and great stories. We thank our guests for accepting the invitation, crossing their own barriers and coming to share their stories and noble deeds with us. We also thank all the volunteers who worked tirelessly to make the conference a success. We also thank our sponsors Marko Tatry for the fresh fruit and vegetables and Adonaj Studio for lending equipment.

We also thank all the participants and we believe the conference brought a dose of new inspiration and the courage to talk about the soul into their lives. 

We look forward to the next edition! 

This event was supported by the Children in Safety (Deti v bezpečí) foundation fund of the Kooperativa insurance company.