Charente-Maritime: “Mind Fest” puts mental health in the spotlight in Montendre

The GEM La Carapace ouverte association is organizing a day dedicated to mental health this Saturday in Montendre, with the support of numerous partners, including the City of Montendre and the Jonzac hospital center.

As part of the national edition of Mental Health Information Weeks (SISM), the GEM (mutual aid group) association La Carapace ouverte, with the support of numerous partners including the City of Montendre, is organizing a day entirely dedicated to the issue of mental health this Saturday, October 11, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Montendre community center.

"This is a mental health festival, open to the general public free of charge. The goal is to promote mental health, because on the one hand, there's prevention with risk factors and also how to take care of your mental health. The goal is to offer different workshops in a fun and friendly approach," explains Simon Alloy, coordinator of the SISM in the region for five years, who works in mental health with young people aged 16 to 25 at the Jonzac hospital center.

Let us recall that these National Weeks take place from October 6 to 18 and have as their theme "For our mental health, let's repair the social bond." Locally, professionals from different sectors of the Jonzac hospital center, Tremplin 17, the Local Mission, Maison Pop', Udaf, the GEM of Jonzac and Montendre, but also members of these GEMs came together to co-construct this project.

The "Mind Fest" is therefore structured around a village made up of different stands: the Psypapote (exchanges), a writing workshop, the construction of a collective artistic work, a well-being workshop, games on psychosocial skills, a workshop for the prevention of domestic violence.

“It allows people to sit down and ask themselves how they are doing. It also helps to destigmatize everything around mental health,” adds Simon Alloy.

The event will end with a festive moment with the concert of the group Simple et efficace.

Information on www.ville-montendre.fr