City-Wide Rollout for Emotional Wellbeing

The Ajuntament d'Igualada has re-launched its 'Guardians de la Salut Mental' initiative this school year, extending it to every secondary school in the city. The project, aimed at promoting emotional wellbeing among adolescents, will deliver 120 workshops during the academic year. According to the Ajuntament, 107 of these sessions are for students, 11 for teaching staff, and two for families. The programme, coordinated by the Youth Department, is designed to equip young people with protective life skills such as emotional regulation, healthy relationships, and digital wellbeing, while also preventing bullying and substance use. Carlota Carner, Councillor for Youth, said the project reaches a key demographic and fosters broad community involvement. "This year, the project is being carried out in all secondary schools in Igualada, reaching a large number of people we want to target," she stated.

Supporting Students, Teachers and Families

Student sessions use participatory methods tailored to adolescence, covering self-esteem, emotional management, and help-seeking behaviours. Teacher training includes life skills development, stress management, self-care, and how to communicate difficult news to pupils. Family sessions aim to improve communication, set boundaries, manage screen time and social media use, and support emotional regulation during adolescence. The goal is to embed mental health support within the wider school community. The initiative builds on last year’s success, when it reached over 3,000 students, 260 teachers, and 87 families. It is promoted annually around World Mental Health Day, observed on 10 October. More information about the programme is available via the Igualada Jove youth service website.

Primary sources: igualada.cat, Any 2022. Reported by infoanoia.cat, diaricatalunya.cat, igualadajove.cat.