IE Mental Health Awareness Week 2025: Breaking Silence

How do food, fitness, and self-image shape our mental well-being? In this session, we’re breaking down myths, tackling societal pressures, and exploring how to build a balanced, healthy relationship with food, fitness, and yourself.

Join us for a dynamic event featuring expert insights, real stories, and actionable tips to help you navigate the challenges of body image and prioritize your mental and physical well-being.

🗓 Date: Friday, February 7th 
⏰ Time: 1 pm
📍 Location: Maria de Molina,31: MM-103
👥 Audience: Open to IE students, faculty, and staff

It’s time for a real talk about food, fitness, and body image. Let’s break the silence together!

Do you find yourself being your own harshest critic? Negative self-talk can impact our confidence, mental health, and overall well-being.

Join Sofía Salgado for this empowering session, where we’ll explore strategies to challenge and reframe self-critical thoughts. Through practical tools and guided exercises, you’ll learn how to nurture a kinder and more constructive inner dialogue.

📽 Event Details:
🗓 Date: Friday 7th of February
⏰ Time: 4 pm
📍 Location: Maria de Molina, 31 Room: MM-103
👥 Participants: Open to all IE students, faculty, and staff

Take the first step toward a more positive and supportive relationship with yourself.

Saying “no” can be one of the hardest yet most empowering things we can do for our mental health. This event explores how setting boundaries and asserting ourselves can lead to healthier relationships, reduced stress, and a greater sense of personal freedom.

Led by Daniel Van de Poll, this session will provide practical tools and strategies to help you embrace the power of saying no in both personal and professional contexts.

📅 Date: Thursday, February 6th
⏰ Time: 4 pm
📍 Location: IE Tower, T22.02
👥 Participants: Students, faculty, and staff

Learn how to prioritize yourself and your well-being by mastering the art of saying no.

Are the things we see on social media a true reflection of reality? Inspired by Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, this event explores how algorithms and AI shape our perception of ourselves and the world around us.

Led by Dr. Pilar Filgueira, a psychologist and PhD holder, this participatory session will combine a live shadow experiment, interactive discussions, and real-time polls to help attendees reflect on how digital media influences our mental well-being.

🗓 Date: Thursday, 6th February
⏰ Time: 5 pm
📍 Location: María de Molina/Master – MM-103
👥 Participants: Students, faculty, and staff (max. 20-25 people)

Let’s shed some light on the shadows cast by digital media.

Jealousy is a natural emotion, but when left unchecked, it can harm relationships and personal well-being. This event delves into the dynamics of jealousy, exploring its roots, impact, and ways to manage it constructively.

Led by Clara Gallego, this session will provide a safe and open space to discuss jealousy in romantic, platonic, and professional relationships. Attendees will gain practical tools to address and transform jealousy into an opportunity for growth and understanding.

📅 Date: Thursday, February 6th
⏰ Time: 5:30 pm
📍 Location: IE Tower, T20.03
👥 Participants: Open to IE students, faculty, and staff

Let’s break the silence around jealousy and learn how to foster healthier relationships.

Growing up across different cultures can be an enriching experience, but it also comes with unique challenges. Third Culture Kids (TCKs)—individuals who have spent a significant part of their developmental years outside their parents' culture—often grapple with questions of identity, belonging, and adaptability.

Join us for an insightful session where we'll explore the mental health impacts of navigating multiple cultures. Led by Daniel Van de Poll, a seasoned psychologist specializing in cross-cultural dynamics, this event will delve into the psychological experiences of TCKs, share personal stories, and discuss strategies for fostering well-being and resilience.

📅 Date: Wednesday, February 5th
⏰ Time: 11 am
📍 Location: IE Tower, T09.02
👥 Audience: Students, faculty, and staff interested in cultural dynamics and mental health

Whether you're a TCK yourself, know someone who is, or are simply interested in the interplay between culture and mental health, this event offers valuable perspectives for all.

In a world filled with societal pressures and unattainable standards, self-image can significantly impact mental health. How we view ourselves shapes our confidence, relationships, and overall well-being.

Join us for an engaging workshop that delves into the relationship between self-esteem and the limits of perception. Explore how your environment and external influences shape your relationship with yourself and affect your daily life.

Key Topics:

Understanding how perception is influenced by the environment
How external factors impact self-esteem
Identifying your successes, strengths, and values
Recognizing and believing in the positive qualities seen by your loved ones


🗓 Date: Wednesday, February 5th
⏰ Time: 5:30 pm
📍 Location: IE Tower, T.17.02
👥 Participants: Open to IE students, faculty, and staff

Don’t miss this chance to gain valuable insights and build a more positive relationship with yourself. Sign up now and embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment!

Join us for an open and honest conversation about the unique challenges men face when it comes to mental health. Societal expectations and outdated norms often make it hard for men to show vulnerability or seek help—but it’s time to change that.

Through real stories and expert insights, we’ll dive into how to foster healthier conversations, build resilience, and challenge the stigma around men’s mental health.

📅 Date: Wednesday, February 5th
⏰ Time: 6 pm
📍 Location: IE Tower, T19.04
👥 Audience: Students, faculty, and staff 

Let’s break the bro code and create a space where all voices can be heard. Together, we can redefine what strength really looks like.

At IE, our diverse community is made up of individuals from around the world—many of whom have experienced the profound journey of migration. 

This event explores the emotional challenges that often accompany migration, including identity shifts, cultural adaptation, and feelings of disconnection.

Through personal stories, expert insights, and practical strategies, we’ll unpack the silent suitcase that migrants carry and foster a supportive space for resilience, growth, and connection in new environments.

📅 Date: Tuesday, February 4th
⏰ Time: 4:30 pm
📍 Location: Maria de Molina,31 Room: MM-103
👥 Participants: Students, faculty, and staff

Let’s come together as a global community to share, understand, and support one another. 

Join us for workshop on building healthy relationships!

This session will explore key aspects of personal boundaries, understanding one's role in a relationship, and recognizing mutual respect.

Additionally, we will delve into identifying toxic relationship patterns and contrasting them with the characteristics of a healthy relationship.

🗓 Date: Tuesday, February 4th
⏰ Time: 6 pm
📍 Location: IE Tower, T-09.02
👥 Participants: IE students, staff, and faculty

Activities include identifying your values and priorities, participating in interactive exercises, and reflecting on past experiences. This is a valuable opportunity to enhance your understanding of healthy relationship dynamics and improve your interpersonal skills.

Don't miss out on this insightful and interactive event! 

Join us for the inaugural event of the IE Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, a week dedicated to breaking the silence around mental health.

This powerful project highlights the journeys of IE community members as they navigate mental health and well-being challenges. Through first-person accounts, we’ll explore stories of resilience, self-awareness, and growth, aiming to inspire and ignite open conversations about mental health. 

An initiative by the IE Center for Health & Well-being and IE Counseling department.

🗓 Date: Monday, February 3rd 
⏰ Time: 6 pm
📍 Location: Maria de Molina, 11. Aula Valentín Díez Morodo
👥 Participants: Students, faculty, staff, friends, and family (friends and family please bring ID)

📽 Event Highlights:

Screening of the teaser on 20 impactful stories from students, faculty, staff, and alumni. 20 stories promoting awareness, reducing stigma, and fostering an academic and working environment where people feel safe to express themselves.
Panel discussion featuring some of the courageous individuals who have shared their journeys.
A chance to reflect, connect, and break the silence on mental health challenges.
Let’s come together as a community to challenge stigma, foster empathy, and create a culture of well-being for all!