The festival aims to strengthen a culture of positive relationships at the university, promote mental well-being, and offer inspiration on how to communicate more effectively, manage conflicts, set boundaries, and take care of one’s own well-being. “We are responding to the growing psychological strain, stress, cognitive overload, and burnout among students, faculty, and the general public. We want to offer participants a safe space to slow down and strengthen their inner resilience. Our goal is to show that taking care of one’s mental health is just as important as taking care of one’s physical health,” said Alena Krejčí from MENDELU Counseling Center on behalf of the MIND FEST organizing team.
The program will feature talks on authenticity in relationships, nutrition for optimal brain function, organization and productivity, meaningful relationships without causing harm, and burnout in life. “ Visitors can look forward to, for example, a lecture on Nutrition for Optimal Brain Function, where they will learn interesting facts about nutrition in general, especially about nutritional needs for better brainperformance. The festival atmosphere will be complemented by refreshments from Tři ocásci and an afternoon tea ceremony,” explained the organizer.
Admission to the festival is free; however, due to limited capacity, registration is required for individual events. The event is primarily intended for MENDELU students and employees, but it is also open to the general public.
The MIND FEST festival is part of the nationwide “Mental Health Weeks” campaign. Last year, it attracted more than 200 participants, who particularly appreciated the opportunity to take some mindful time for themselves, gain deeper insights into their own lives, and leave with an overall sense of relief and good spirits. “Last year’s event showed just how much people appreciate the chance to take a break from the daily hustle and bustle. Visitors most appreciated that they left not only with valuable insights and a new perspective, but also with a sense of well-being and energy from a pleasant time spent at the festival,” added Krejčí.