As World Mental Health Day is also observed on this day, UP FAMNIT and UP IAM prepared activities for students focusing on mental health, psychological well-being, and self-care. In collaboration with the UP Psychological Counselling, the teams at both activity stations engaged students in short, interactive activities that encouraged conversations about mental health, cycling and walking, reflection on personal goals, and discovering ways to cope with the challenges of student life.

UP IAM: Small steps towards better well-being

At the UP IAM activity station, members of the Slovene Centre for Suicide Research encouraged students to reflect on the positive aspects of everyday life and the importance of physical activity through the Move for Life initiative. Students wrote positive thoughts on the outline of a hand, expressing what inspires them, gives them strength, or brightens their day. As part of the initiative, they also cycled and walked, recording the number of steps they had taken and the kilometres they had cycled. Physical activity serves as a reminder that even small steps can contribute to better well-being.

UP FAMNIT: How to start the New Academic Year?

At the UP FAMNIT activity station, members of the WELLSPAN programme from the Department of Psychology invited students to reflect on their goals, satisfaction, and well-being through short activities based on coaching and positive psychology. Students identified their goals for the new academic year and the first steps towards achieving them, while also reflecting on whether their basic psychological needs were being met. They had the opportunity to anonymously express whether they had ever doubted that they belonged at university and to learn practical ways of dealing with such feelings. They could also write down their goals on a goals wall, encouraging other students to reflect on their own aspirations.

Tea talks with Psychologists

A new series of lectures and meetings is about to begin, welcoming psychologists from a range of research fields and professional practices. The first event will take place on 22 October 2026, at 4:30 p.m., in the lobby of UP FAMNIT in Koper. The guest speaker will be Dr Sandra Bosacki, Professor at the Faculty of Education at Brock University in Ontario, Canada, where she specialises in developmental and educational psychology. In her lecture, “Mentalization, Self-Perception Processes, and Well-Being: Implications for Research and Practice,” she will present past and current research exploring how mentalization skills help adolescents and young adults navigate the time they spend alone and the time they spend with friends and family, both online and in person. More information is available here.

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Where can I find support?

An essential part of raising awareness is informing students about the professional support available to them. All students at the University of Primorska can access the UP Psychological Counselling, which offers free support and an opportunity to talk about personal difficulties. More information is available at the link.

Confidential telephone support is also available through Samarijan and Sopotnik at 116 123, operating 24 hours a day, and the Mental Distress Helpline at 01 520 99 00, available daily from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. In cases of severe psychological distress or suicidal thoughts, professional support is available through the following services:

112 – Emergency Response Centre (immediate emergency assistance)

116 111 – TOM Helpline for Children and Adolescents (daily from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)

01 520 99 00 – Mental Distress Helpline (daily from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.)

031 233 211– Women's Counselling Centre – Crisis Centre (24 hours a day)

080 11 55 – SOS Helpline (24 hours a day)