Project “Mi Sento”: design at the service of youth mental health

Mental health is a topic often overlooked, especially when it comes to young people. Yet, pre-adolescents and adolescents face today emotional and psychological challenges that require spaces for listening and tools to express what they feel. 

“Mi Sento” is a project born from the collaboration between Cooperativa ITACA and Studio SHIFT as part of the ideas generated in DesignSprint 4ETS 2023. The project serves as an example of social design: through a communication campaign and an urban exhibition, it seeks to raise awareness and promote psychological well-being among youths in the Bassa Bergamasca area, offering them an opportunity to reflect on their emotions and interact positively with the community.

Social Design for mental health

Studio SHIFT contributed to the development of the “Mi Sento” project by supporting three young designers (Giulia Barone, Alessia Vannini, and Aline Di Campi) who conceived the idea. Along with the staff from Cooperativa ITACA, they managed to transform a complex theme like mental health into an engaging and accessible experience.

In particular, the visual content of the campaign creates communication capable of informing young people about the initiative and inviting them to actively participate. Through the use of stickers, urban posters, and proactive installations, the campaign enables active youth participation and emotional connection with the topics addressed.

The concept “Mi Sento” itself was designed to be fluid and versatile, just like the emotions of the young people it targets. The campaign’s claim and visual identity adapt to a variety of emotional shades, allowing each individual to personalize their experience based on their feelings and contexts.

A multichannel strategy for inclusive awareness

The “Mi Sento” project has followed a multichannel communication strategy to reach not only young people, the primary target of the initiative, but also the adults surrounding them who represent their reference figures. The campaign was launched in September 2024 on social media and will unfold through offline events taking place from October 10 to 13, 2024, in Romano di Lombardia (BG). 

The digital component has utilized Instagram as a central platform: on the dedicated page, young people can answer questions, share emotions, and contribute to the creation of a feel-good playlist that will be used during a flash mob, where a DJ will animate Piazza Fiume.

In parallel, the offline campaign includes the distribution of postcards in local schools, inviting young people to participate in events and connect with the Instagram page. 

The events will culminate in a series of initiatives in the city of Romano di Lombardia, including an interactive installation on emotions and Life Skills, designed to explore six key thematic areas for young people, such as emotional management and interpersonal relationships. On this occasion, the young people will not be mere spectators but active participants in an initiative that brings the theme of psychological well-being to the forefront in a playful and engaging way.

Since “Mi Sento” also targets adults — parents, teachers, and coaches — the series of events will open with a moment of reflection and awareness through a conference with Alberto Pellai, a mental health expert and child psychotherapist, to help them understand the role they can play in supporting young people on their emotional journey.

A lasting impact: “Mi Sento” as a pilot project

Although the “Mi Sento” festival will conclude on October 13, 2024, the project will not stop there. The activities will continue through school initiatives, hosted by Spazio 12, a service provided by Cooperativa ITACA, and across digital channels, keeping the conversation about mental health alive.

Studio SHIFT will continue to support Cooperativa ITACA in the implementation of the project, with the possibility of replicating it in other cities in Lombardy and adapting it to different local contexts.

If you would like to learn more and actively participate in the project, follow the updates on the dedicated Instagram page and join the scheduled events. Together, we can build a stronger community where mental health becomes a priority for everyone.