The Rafa Nadal Foundation, represented by Eunate Gómez, Head of Projects, and Íñigo Martínez de San Vicente, Director of the Rafa Nadal Foundation Centre in Palma, attended the event “Emotional Intelligence, Mental Health and Caring Communities”, a discussion with Elsa Punset held as part of the initiatives organised to mark World Mental Health Day on 10 October.
The event opened with remarks by Manuela García Romero, Regional Minister for Health, and featured a conversation between Carme Bosch, Director General for Mental Health, and Elsa Punset, a writer and popular science communicator specialising in emotional intelligence.
The importance of caring for emotional well-being
The discussion focused on the importance of paying attention to our emotions and taking the time to reflect on how we are feeling. Under the question “How are you?”, attendees were encouraged to question the automatic responses we give in our daily lives, such as a simple “fine”, without stopping to consider how we really feel.
Being able to express that we are not feeling well, recognise our emotions and ask for help when we need it are essential steps in looking after our mental health. In this regard, the event highlighted that emotional intelligence is not magic, but a skill we can develop to better understand ourselves and build healthier relationships with others.
The discussion also addressed the need to strengthen our collective commitment to mental health and build communities that care for people. Human connection, affection and the ability to give and receive love were highlighted as basic needs for our emotional well-being.
The speakers also reflected on how constant exposure to difficult situations around the world can lead us to normalise worrying realities as a way of coping with them. This makes it even more important to create opportunities to pause, reflect and pay attention to our emotions.
The Rafa Nadal Foundation’s commitment to emotional well-being
Attending this event reinforces the importance that the Rafa Nadal Foundation places on emotional well-being and providing comprehensive support to individuals.
At the Rafa Nadal Foundation Centres, children, adolescents and their families receive comprehensive support through an approach that combines sports, education and psychosocial care. This methodology aims to promote personal development, education in values and the well-being of participants, while also addressing their emotional and social needs.
Events such as this one help raise awareness of the importance of mental health and remind us that caring for it is a shared responsibility. Building a caring society begins with learning to listen to ourselves, recognise how we feel and offer others safe spaces where they can express themselves and feel supported.