“BURST YOUR PAIN”: A PARTICIPATORY STRATEGY FOR MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION AMONG YOUTH — AN EXPERIENCE REPORT

Abstract

Promoting mental health among adolescents and young adults requires strategies that foster emotional recognition, reflection, and participation. This study aims to report on the educational intervention "Pop Your Pain" (Estoure Sua Dor), developed by nursing and psychology students for young apprentices aged 17 to 21 at a vocational training institution during the first semester of 2026. The activity took place over three days, covering both morning and afternoon shifts, totaling six interventions across six groups and reaching approximately 400 young people. The initiative employed a participatory activity in which participants chose—from emotional themes labeled on balloons—the topic they most identified with or wished to reflect upon. After making their choice, they would pop the balloon to find a reflective message related to the selected theme, along with a small piece of candy. This act held symbolic significance, representing the transition from recognizing an emotion to an invitation for reflection, rather than the elimination of the emotion itself. Approximately 900 balloons were used. The experience revealed varying levels of receptiveness, including initial resistance in some groups, which necessitated adjustments to the language and approach used. Spontaneous expressions of identification with the messages and the interest shown by some young people in keeping them were notable aspects of the experience, though no therapeutic effects were claimed. For the students, the activity engaged skills in communication, planning, teamwork, and adaptability. It is concluded that "Pop Your Pain" offered a viable participatory approach for mental health education and promotion initiatives within an educational setting.