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This blog was authored by Yesibeth Centeno, Project Manager in Latin America.
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Mental and emotional health is vital to an individual's quality of life, influencing self-perception, resilience in facing challenges, and overall physical well-being. Yet, various barriers and societal taboos often hinder people from openly sharing their thoughts, ideas, and emotions.
One of the goals of Lutheran World Relief, part of Corus International, has been to promote mental health by providing information and professional guidance to young people in Honduras who need it most. In November 2023, Lutheran World Relief launched EmpleandoMentes, a digital space designed to address topics such as emotional intelligence, mental illness, emotional support, soft skills and more.
Proyectate SaludableMente
Proyectate SaludableMente (Project Yourself Healthily) was a contest of the EmpleandoMentes platform designed to engage young people aged 15 to 29 in discussions about the importance of mental health from their unique perspectives. By encouraging them to express their thoughts and ideas, this initiative aimed to normalize mental wellness and promote the pursuit of professional support when necessary.
The challenge of the contest was for youth to produce a 30-second video that effectively communicated a powerful message about the importance of mental and emotional health, self-care, and awareness. Their goal was to inspire meaningful conversations with family, friends and anyone who engages with their messages.
The call for entries began in May 2024 through national and local mass media in Honduras. Between June and July, participants had to register their teams, attend training workshops, and submit synopses of their stories for review by experts from EmpleandoMentes (EmployingMinds) to advance their projects.
Out of 40 registered teams in two categories—Audiovisual Dreamer (ages 15 to 20) and Emerging Talent (ages 21 to 29)—22 successfully met the final goal by submitting their pieces in compliance with the established requirements.
The pieces were then published on the EmpleandoMentes website and YouTube channel, allowing both the public and a jury of seven mental health and audiovisual production professionals to vote for their favorite videos and share their reflections.
Eight winning pieces were selected, telling stories related to the impact of domestic violence on children, personal resilience, the importance of making the most of life's opportunities, the distinction between right and wrong, and the relevance of seeking help when needed, among other valuable topics.
On August 15, 2024, the winning teams, jury members, special guests, and representatives of sponsoring companies and organizations gathered at the Colegio de Psicólogos (College of Psychologists) of Honduras in Tegucigalpa to celebrate the amazing work of those who successfully took on this challenge.
Representatives of the winning teams at the Proyectate SaludableMente awards ceremony.
Meet the Winners!
Audience Choice Award:
Audiovisual Dreamer category:
- Vox Pópuli from Intibucá.
Emerging Talent category:
- Nuevas Ideas HN (HN New Ideas) from Intibucá.
Jury Award:
Audiovisual Dreamer category:
- 1st place: Sin riesgo, no hay éxito (Without risk, there is no success) from Lempira.
- 2nd place: Random Boys from Santa Bárbara.
- 3rd place: Oasis mental (Mental Oasis) from Lempira.
Emerging Talent category:
- 1st place: Nuevas Ideas HN (HN New Ideas) from Intibucá.
- 2nd place: Saludablemente Creativo (Healthily Creative) from Atlántida.
- tied 3rd place: Sin Frenos al Éxito (No Brakes for Success) from Atlántida.
- tied 3rd place: Mentes Brillantes VIP (VIP Brillant Minds) from Intibucá.
Advancing Mental Health
This contest, organized by Lutheran World Relief in partnership with Red ITC and the communications agency HonduraStock, profoundly impacted the young talents who participated, with many reporting a positive influence from the experience. It also successfully engaged key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education, media outlets, film institutes, universities, and the College of Psychologists of Honduras. This collaborative effort not only promoted mental health awareness but also illustrated the power of uniting diverse forces to support the new generation, fostering healthier, more resilient, communities.