Called Kavaan (in reference to the elephant who lived locked up for 35 years), the podcast launched in March 2024 within the Santé Psy Étudiant system allows young people to listen to stories and advice for managing their mental well-being.
The Student Psy Health system allows students (in higher education) to benefit from 8 sessions of 45 minutes per year with a psychologist, without having to pay up front. It also offers documentary resources on social networks to enable young people to better understand and manage their mental well-being. Finally, the latest novelty launched last March, the Kaavan* podcast. Here are its objectives.
Kaavan podcast: between personal story and advice
The goal of this podcast is clear: to explore the world of mental health through different life experiences. Every two weeks, the Kaavan podcast welcomes personalities, experts and anonymous people to dive into intimate and simple discussions where everyone can find resonance in their own journey. Among the guests, Eddy de Pretto, Gringe and Mayadorable come to share their story. Their speaking out and sharing their experience on mental health allows young people to identify and realize that they are not alone. Each story aims to be inspiring and offer reassuring messages to maintain hope.
The first three episodes are already available on all platforms:
- Eddy de Pretto, who was notably the victim of cyberharassment;
- Clinical psychologist and art therapist Jérôme Lacinga, who notably discusses anxiety in the podcast;
- Kim Lewin, content creator who was bullied at school and suffered from eating disorders and depression.
The name of the podcast refers to the elephant Kaavan, known as the “loneliest elephant in the world.” After living locked up for 35 years, including 8 years alone in a concrete enclosure, he developed mental and physical problems. In 2020, Kaavan was moved to a sanctuary, along with other elephants. Since then, he has regained good physical shape and also seems to have rediscovered the joy of living in contact with his peers! Kaavan's story thus shows the importance of empathy and social connection for mental health.
Youth mental health at the heart of concerns
As we mentioned in a previous article, 8 out of 10 teenagers have the feeling of being in good health but these results must be qualified because only half of the students questioned have a good level of mental well-being (59% among middle school students and 51% among high school students), according to the criteria used by the World Health Organization (WHO). This podcast is therefore part of the Government's desire to work towards the well-being and mental health of students, which translates into:
- The development of SSE (student health services);
- Support for Nightline, a listening, support and information service provided by student volunteers;
- The establishment of the CNAÉ call number, a listening, support and reporting system for students who experience situations of discomfort, violence or discrimination;
- The establishment of BAPUs (university psychological assistance offices), free consultation centers accessible to students;
- The development of peer prevention;
- Training of mental health first aiders in establishments.
* This podcast, available for free on all listening platforms, is aimed at people who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health, but also at those who are supporting a loved one.
