October 5–10, 2026
The Body as a Resource for Mental Health.
Mental Health Week 2026
Mental Health Week 2026 invites us to reflect on the role of the body in our psychological well-being. Through workshops and activities open to everyone, discover how movement, self-awareness, and positive emotions can support mental health in the workplace.
An invitation to explore a relationship with the body rooted in lived experience, and to recognize that self-esteem is also built through the way we live and experience our daily lives.
2026 ThemE
This event is part of the Canton of Geneva’s Mental Health Week, which takes place from October 5 to 10, 2026, and is dedicated to body image and self-esteem.
At UNIGE and Graduate Institute, this theme is approached from the perspective of the body as experienced: not the body we look at or evaluate, but the body that allows us to act, feel, learn, work, and connect with others.
The proposed activities thus invite participants to explore simple, practical strategies that promote psychological well-being, stress management, and a more compassionate relationship with oneself.
activities
The 2026 program is structured around three complementary tracks designed for UNIGE and Graduate Institute staff, students, and the general public.
Through experiential workshops, exploratory sessions, and cultural events, this edition invites participants to explore movement, self-awareness, and positive emotions as resources for mental health.
The program includes: sophrology, tai chi, Pilates, voice coaching, compassion practices, and body-based approaches, as well as two film screenings in partnership with the Caramelo y Limón Festival and the UNIGE Film Club, and an observation evening organized by the Department of Astronomy titled “La tête dans les étoiles” (Head in the Stars), inviting participants to step back, nurture their curiosity, and enjoy a unique shared experience.
Photo Contest - Perspectives on Self
Open to the entire University and Graduate Institute community, this collaborative project invites everyone to share their own perspective on the theme of self-esteem and our relationship with our bodies and our self-image.
Photography is proposed as a means of expression, observation, and putting things into perspective. It can sometimes reveal what sustains us, inspires us, soothes us, or contributes to our sense of balance.
The submitted entries will be featured in an exhibition in the spring of 2027, highlighting the shared perspectives, sensibilities, and experiences.
Links and resources
Post cards
To brighten up your workspace, decorate your planner, or send to a coworker, the 2026 Mental Health Week postcards from UNIGE are available at Uni Dufour on the 1st floor.
You can also download the PDF of the postcards (all rights reserved).
Partners
Practical Information
Locations : CMU · Sciences II · Uni Mail · Uni Dufour · Astronomy Observatory · IHEID
Mental Health Week at UNIGE is organized by the Human Resources Division, the Student Health Service, University Sports, Cultural Activities, and the faculties. In partnership with the Canton of Geneva, World Mental Health Day (Oct. 10), HETS Geneva, and the Caramelo y Limón festival.
Illustrations: Natacha Veen