"I Want to Tell You, Actually I Am Not Happy" Student Emotional Support Programme & Exhibition

About the Programme

Is students' depression solely due to academic pressure? Students' emotional distress can result from a combination of factors, including challenges in peer relationships, lack of understanding from family members, and uncertainty about the future. These issues cannot be resolved with mere slogans or gestures. 

To unravel the knots in their hearts, students need empathy and support.

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Therefore, we decided to launch the "I Want to Tell You, Actually I Am Not Happy"  Student Emotional Support Programme.

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The programme provided students the opportunity to express their true feelings. After meeting with therapists, students gradually learned to understand their emotional needs and find suitable ways to express them. The program not only focused on students' current psychological distress but also emphasised "mental fitness", allowing students to understand that training their mind is similar to training their abs—it requires daily practice.

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During therapy, therapists assisted students in expressing their inner feelings through artistic forms. Students used art to convey the message: "I am not happy." What are students struggling with? How do they truly feel?​

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About the Exhibition

Two walls, one colourful, one black-and-white, both adorned with handwritten cards.

We are often not good at expressing our feelings, sometimes relying on sensitive people around us to notice our unease.

The colourful wall displayed students' entries. We deliberately arranged for viewers to pull out the cards from the seemingly colourful envelopes to read about their struggles, loneliness, sorrows, and worries.

What should have been a bright and lively period of youth has turned into cruel stories due to adults' excessive expectations, difficult peer relationships, pressure from the public exam, loneliness from not being understood, and verbal violence.

The students also answered the question, "What do you want the people around you to do for you?" The phrases "check up on me, "chat with me," "keep me company," and "be a listener" appeared frequently in these answers. We all know this, but how many people actually took action?

The black-and-white wall consisted of adults' confessions of their emotional struggles during their teenage years and methods they believed to be effective in alleviating the problems. "Moving away from my family of origin," "drawing," "affirming myself," "accepting my body shape," "talking to others," "listening to Rock n Roll music"—these methods resonated with many.

Throughout the exhibition period, we collected Confession Cards from students and adults (exhibited anonymously). These confessions brought new insights to the exhibition continuously.

We hope everyone can transform their "unhappiness" into strength.

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Exhibition Period｜7 Dec 2023 to 20 Jan 2024

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Programme Impact

• Over 4,000 visitors in total.
• Over 200 adults shared their teenage confusions at the exhibition.
• Over 100 students participated in the exhibition, expressing their current struggles and what they want others to do for them.
• Around 40 grassroots students were referred to have one-on-one psychotherapy sessions on a "pay-as-you-can" basis.