SwS Festival 2023: Mental Strength

OBA Oosterdok – 20th of June

The main festival event featured a dialogue session around the theme of mental strength, which was designed and hosted by a group of master’s students from the VU. About 40 people participated in the session, including representatives from AURORA (Horizon 2020), VoorUit, Thrive Amsterdam, OBA, and various VU students and researchers. The master’s students presented findings from their own research projects on mental strength and asked two discussion questions: 1) How do you define mental strength? and 2) How do you increase your mental strength? Definitions of mental strength were mainly related to resilience and balance. Ways to increase mental strength included self-care (e.g. sleep, engaging in hobbies), creating and relying on community, increasing self-awareness and self-acceptance, and reflective activities (e.g. meditation, praying, philosophy). A discussion emerged about individual vs. collective mental strength, and the importance of taking care of each other and our communities. We also discussed internal vs. external factors that contribute to mental strength. For example, people can be mentally strong but still in a vulnerable position within society

OBA Banne Buiksloot - June 22nd

In Noord we hosted a mental strength-themed quiz (adapted from a regular weekly OBA quiz) in order to stimulate discussion about mental strength among the elderly in Noord. A group of about 20 elderly residents attended, most of whom have lived in Noord for over 40 years. We discussed potential causes of loneliness among the elderly, green spaces in Amsterdam, and changes in the neighborhood. Most participants felt that they were friendly towards their neighbors, but that they didn’t receive the same amount of friendliness in return. Accessibility issues in parks, such as mobility and availability of toilets, were also a common theme. Many participants also felt that there was a stronger sense of community in Noord in the past, compared with now.

OBA Ganzenhoef – June 22nd

In Zuid-Oost there was around table discussion, which included HvA psychology students and welfare organizations such as Thrive Amsterdam (GGD) and Swasoom Welzijn. Participants reflected on three questions: 1) What does mental strength mean to you? 2) How do you keep your balance? and 3) What can buurtcampuses or the Science with Society project do to help you? We found that rest, sleeping, feeling well in your body, feeling fit, and feeling seen and heard all contributed to mental strength. Participants said that it is important to have someone to talk to, have physical contact with someone, exercise, and to embrace challenges and problems instead of avoiding them. Barriers to increasing mental strength included financial (in)security, feelings of shame, and cultural differences.

The Science with Society Festival brought together over 200 stakeholders from the Amsterdam region, each with their own unique perspectives and experiences. The main event at OBA Oosterdok was particularly successful in connecting welfare organizations, policy makers, students, and researchers. The smaller, neighborhood-based events in Noord and Zuid-Oost were more successful in reaching residents. The conversations we had imply many future research directions, for example:

• How can we increase mental resilience and a sense of balance?
• Who is responsible for increasing mental strength in society?
• How can mental strength be increased in vulnerable groups?
• How is mental strength perceived by different cultural groups?

Thank you to everyone who participated and we hope to see you next year!