What helps us recharge after a tough day? For some, it’s their favorite music. For others, it’s silence, a walk, drawing, or a few minutes with a pet. And sometimes, all it takes is a kind word.
It was precisely these simple yet important things that students and teachers from the “Novodmytrivskyi Lyceum” Model Educational Institution of the Kostiantynivka City Council and Lyceum No. 10 of the Oleksandriia City Council shared on a joint online bulletin board on the eve of World Mental Health Day.
As part of the “Side by Side: United Communities” project, the two communities met online to share what helps them stay calm, restore their good spirits, and find inner strength.
Little pieces of a great shared story gradually appeared on Padlet.
- «Моя кнопка «Перезавантаження» — фото та відео улюблених місць на природі, домашніх улюбленців, затишного чаювання, малювання та занять, які допомагають дітям відпочити й відновити сили.
- «Спільний плейлист спокою та натхнення» — улюблені пісні учнів і педагогів, які допомагають заспокоїтися, підняти настрій або просто побути наодинці зі своїми думками.
- «Банка теплих слів» — віртуальні стікери з побажаннями, словами підтримки та мотиваційними цитатами, які діти залишали для своїх ровесників з іншої громади.
And the more posts like this there were, the clearer it became: while we may have our own stories, favorite places, and songs in different cities and communities, our need for warmth, support, and peace of mind is the same.
Mental health isn’t just about how to cope with difficult moments. It’s also about being able to recognize what gives us strength, taking care of ourselves, and supporting those around us. Distance may separate cities, but it cannot separate people who are ready to support one another.
Sometimes, taking care of your mental health simply means pausing for a moment, listening to yourself, and allowing yourself to do what brings you peace.
Based on materials from the Kostiantynivka City Military Administration