Mental health has been taking on an increasingly central role in society’s concerns and in the conversations of the Portuguese people. Portugal has one of the highest prevalence rates of mental disorders in the European Union, affecting around 22% of the population according to 2019 data. Among the main factors contributing to this situation are stress, financial difficulties and loneliness. The latter, contrary to common belief, is not confined to older age groups, but also affects many young people. In everyday life, the impact is clear: approximately 61% of people report feeling exhausted or at risk of burnout. It was from this reality that the project ‘Janelas para a Mente’ (Windows to the Mind) was born - an initiative that seeks to unite creativity, empathy and social awareness, challenging the community to look at mental health from new perspectives and to act through small gestures, art and empathy.

From Reflection to Action

The project’s preparation began in April with the collection of testimonies from the association’s members about the frustrations and challenges of daily life. This process provided a moment of introspection and sharing about the emotions we all experience. The information gathered was later developed in collaboration with psychologist Margarida Gonçalves, whom the association met during ‘Heróis de Aveiro’ (Heroes of Aveiro), in 2020. With her support, the activities that would shape the event at Glicínias Plaza were designed, and the words that composed the mural ‘Under Deconstruction’ were selected.

A Wall Painted with Emotions

During September, the Glicínias Plaza car park became the building site for a very special construction - a wall. Each block of this wall bore an inscribed word - anxiety, guilt, fear, loneliness - selected from the collected testimonies, representing the emotions we feel and which, when intensified, can block our thoughts and actions. 

In a symbolic act, in the form of a ‘destructive therapy’, the wall was later dismantled - an exercise in liberation and inner reconstruction. The entire process was documented and resulted in a short film combining art, metaphor and real testimonies, illustrating both the impact of emotions on everyday life and the power of empathy to transform pain into growth.

In the film, among the debris of deconstruction, something new emerges - a window, a symbol of new perspectives, and a reminder that instead of building walls, we can open windows to the mind. The short film, available on Agora Aveiro’s social media and YouTube channel, visually captures the emotional journey the group set out on: to build, confront and deconstruct the walls we raise within ourselves - something possible when we have the right tools.

An Afternoon to Pause and Breathe

The project did not end there. To mark World Mental Health Day - celebrated on 10 October - Agora Aveiro transformed Glicínias Plaza into a space for pause and connection. On Saturday, 11 October, amid cosy sofas and blankets, books on mental health provided by Auchan, tea and cakes from Celeiro, and many engaging conversations, Agora Aveiro hosted an afternoon of activities open to the community.

There was a yoga class with Sílvia Gomes from VivaGym, a talk on ‘The Role of Nutrition in Mental Health’ with nutritionist Daniela Cação from Auchan, and a discussion titled ‘The Role of Community in Mental Health’, with psychologist Margarida Gonçalves, sociologist Carla Fernandes and educational psychologist João Henriques.

As Carla Fernandes highlighted, ‘In the rush of daily life, it’s hard to stop and take care of ourselves’. This event existed precisely for that reason - to create a space where people could relax and reflect on such an important topic as mental well-being.

Throughout the afternoon, dozens of people took part in different activities and moments of reflection, writing and relaxation - some inspired by previous association projects such as ‘Estendal das Boas Ações’ (Good Deeds’ Clothesline) and ‘Reflexos Intrusivos’ (Intrusive Reflections), and others newly created, like ‘Crossed Words’, which invited participants to write and exchange letters of self-compassion. At Moura Glicínias Pharmacy, visitors could find ‘Prescriptions for Well-being’ - simple strategies to promote good mental health. And because the little ones could not be forgotten, a craft area was set up where children could personalise small stress balls made from balloons and flour. The warm and collaborative atmosphere reinforced the project’s central idea: no one should face their inner barriers alone.

The initiative was very well received by everyone who took part.

According to a woman in her 50s or 60s, a domestic cleaner:

Because of my job, my body and nervous system feel tense. I liked the yoga class. I came to try it because I had never done it before. I saw the event on Facebook and thought it was a good initiative - a way to relax and relieve everyday stress.

Sofia, a nurse who came with her son, said:

I really enjoyed it. I came with my 10-year-old son, and we both loved it. He did some really fun activities - he read books about emotions, drew pictures, made stress balls - and we were also able to relax and enjoy a different kind of experience. It was an interesting experience. Initiatives like this, from associations like yours, are very important.

A retired old lady commented:

I wasn't there for the whole event, just the last part of the discussion. I sat down to watch and really enjoyed the conversation. They talked about learning to accept ‘no’ and the discomfort that brings, and that part really struck a chord with me. Congratulations on the initiative.

Because mental health cannot be confined to a single event, Agora Aveiro also took the exhibition ‘Nas Entrelinhas’ (Between the Lines), created in 2022, to the Aveiro Prison. Displayed in the visiting room - a space open to inmates and their families - throughout the month of October, the exhibition aims to create a space for reflection and dialogue between prisoners and their relatives, reinforcing the idea that mental well-being should be universal: inside and outside prison walls.

With ‘Janelas para a Mente’, Agora Aveiro reaffirms its commitment to promoting empathy, sharing, and well-being in the community. The project left a symbolic mark on Aveiro - not only on the wall that was created, but in the conversations that were opened and in new ways of looking at the human mind. Taking care of our mental health starts with getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising regularly, but also having a network of friends and family to support us: ‘When we join hands, we discover that these walls are more fragile than we thought’.