Projecta’t offers an integrated view of how children's mental health can be contextualized and enriched through interdisciplinary practices that connect clinical work, education, and artistic creation. The interview highlights the importance of collaborative approaches for the emotional and social well-being of children. Projecta’t is a joint initiative of the Fundació Orienta and BAU, Centre Universitari d’Arts i Disseny de Barcelona, founded in 2019 under the direction of Professor Frank María. It emerged as an experimental proposal to bridge the gap between mental health and contemporary creation, promoting an interdisciplinary approach aligned with principles of holistic well-being.
Projecta’t and Yumakids are projects that share a vision placing childhood at the center, seeking to integrate mental health, the arts, and design to enrich emotional and social well-being. The interview emphasizes the idea that the connection between people, active listening, and authenticity can generate healing processes, especially in contexts related to childhood. Additionally, in relation to educational and clinical innovation, the alliance between mental health and contemporary creation is presented as a pathway to develop innovative practices that transcend traditional approaches and promote participatory and experimental strategies.
Dr. Cárdenas, president of the Foundation, suggests that intervention in children's mental health is strengthened when it incorporates dynamics of creativity, dialogue, and interdisciplinary collaboration. “The connection between people, listening, and authenticity as a driver of healing processes.” Incorporating creative and design approaches into programs for children's emotional support can expand the avenues for expression and understanding of children's experiences.
The importance of inter-institutional collaboration, alliances between foundations, universities, and mental health entities can generate more inclusive, transversal, and sustainable models. This provides a potential line for future research: to empirically study how creative practices contribute to emotional and social well-being in various childhood environments.
Recommended reading. Link to the full interview here.
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