Mental Health Festival

The Mental Health Festival in Valdarno

The Mental Health Festival is a cultural and social event held every spring in the Valdarno area, with a program spread across the municipalities of San Giovanni Valdarno, Montevarchi, and Arezzo, in the heart of Tuscany. Promoted by the University of Siena - Arezzo Campus in collaboration with the Azienda USL Toscana Sud Est, the Valdarno Mayors' Conference, and the Regional School Office, the festival was created to foster open dialogue about psychological well-being, dismantling the stigma that still surrounds mental suffering.

A widespread program across the territory

The festival offers a week packed with conferences, debates, masterclasses, film screenings, workshops, and outdoor activities. Each edition addresses a core theme: from the Basaglia reform to contemporary vulnerabilities, from inclusion through sport to the challenges of adolescence. The meetings bring together psychiatrists, psychoanalysts, writers, healthcare workers, teachers, and citizens for an open exchange between professionals, users, and families.

San Giovanni Valdarno in the spotlight

The town of San Giovanni Valdarno hosts some of the festival's most significant events, particularly at the GeoTechnologies Center on Via Vetri Vecchi and the Masaccio cinema. It is in San Giovanni Valdarno that the GIOi Day Center was inaugurated—a therapeutic and rehabilitative facility for adolescents aged 12 to 17 dealing with mental health and behavioral disorders, serving as a concrete example of how the festival translates into real services for the community.

Cinema, masterclasses, and debates

Among the most anticipated moments are the film screenings at the Masaccio cinema, followed by debates with the directors, and the masterclasses held by nationally renowned academics. The closing conference, dedicated to adolescence and titled "Under pressure," brings together industry experts to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of growing up.

A festival for the entire community

All festival events are free of charge, with some requiring advance booking. The festival targets a broad audience—students, families, industry professionals, and the curious—confirming the Valdarno area's commitment to psychological well-being and social inclusion.