Feritoie. Far passare la luce nelle ferite

Wounds can become openings when they are shared. This is the message that APS Onde Culturali and the Area 7 Mental Health Centre of Putignano have chosen to place at the heart of the event “Openings: Letting Light Through Wounds,” taking place on 6 November at the “Giovanni Laterza” Municipal Theatre in Putignano.

The event is part of the initiatives marking Suicide Prevention Awareness Month (September) and the campaign to combat stigma surrounding mental distress (October), and continues the project launched in collaboration with the “Majorana-Laterza” High School of Putignano. Staff from the Mental Health Centre met with students at the Putignano high school to address, together, the issues of stigma surrounding mental distress and suicide. The latter is an increasingly widespread issue among young people and represents the second leading cause of death in Europe among adolescents, after road accidents.

The workshops, led by the Centre’s staff, created a safe space for listening, free from preconceptions, pressure and judgment. The meetings provided an opportunity to address sensitive topics and to introduce the support services offered by professionals and by the local health authority (ASL).

The initiative was very well received by the students, who showed themselves willing to engage and open up. The series of meetings included a kintsugi workshop attended by students, parents, teachers, staff from the Mental Health Centre and patients. It was an opportunity for everyone to learn about the Japanese art of repairing objects while highlighting their cracks with gold, making each repaired object more precious and unique.

The event on 6 November will begin at 4:00 p.m. in the Theatre’s rehearsal room with a kintsugi workshop organised in collaboration with Legneria EXP of Conversano. Everyone will be able to learn about this Japanese art and experience, through hands-on activities, the central message of the initiative: extraordinary value and potential can emerge even from wounds. Places are limited. For information and reservations, contact WhatsApp at +39 3661334006 (Marica) or +39 3247753579 (Aurora).

At 7:00 p.m., the evening will get fully underway with a free event open to all at the “Giovanni Laterza” Municipal Theatre in Putignano, featuring testimonials from students and Mental Health Centre staff. On the Theatre’s stage, the participants will talk about the project carried out in the classroom and speak firsthand about the importance of mental health.

This will be followed by a presentation of the book “Il cielo se ne frega” (Sonzogno, 2026), written by Apulian author Adessoscrivo, which explores the theme of mental health. The author, whose legal name is Salvatore Ferrante, made his debut in 2017 and has sold more than 130,000 copies.

The new novel focuses on the life of Michelangelo, a psychologist who spends his days quieting other people’s demons. He knows how to recognise wounds, give them a name and guide those before him out of the darkness. But when it comes to himself, he remains stuck in the same place: trapped in his memories, in a past he cannot let go of. Through the various events of the story, Michelangelo is forced to confront a truth he has always avoided: understanding others is not enough to save yourself. You must learn to let yourself be seen. An intimate, contemporary novel about the pain we carry inside, the relationships that change us and the possibility of starting over. Because sometimes the hardest thing is not surviving, but finding the courage to “let it happen” and choosing to truly live.

The event will be hosted by the distinguished RAI journalist Marco Carrara.

Originally from Bergamo and born in 1992, Carrara is a professional journalist. Since 2017, he has been the presenter and author of *Timeline*, the Rai 3 programme dedicated to social media, and is one of the presenters and authors of *Agorà*, Rai 3’s current-affairs talk show.

On 16 April 2024, he was awarded the title of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic by President Mattarella. He is considered one of Italy’s most influential young people by *Fortune* magazine. He sits on the board of UNICEF NextGen, is an FAI ambassador, presents the Rai Telethon marathon in support of research into rare genetic diseases, and is a TEDx speaker. To mark Rai’s 100th anniversary, in 2024 he was commissioned to write the official book, entitled “Tanti Auguri.” He is also an adjunct professor at LUMSA University in Rome, where he teaches audience analysis.

“As an association made up of young people, we feel a responsibility to address current and crucial issues such as mental health and suicide prevention. We have chosen to do so on two fronts: listening to young people, their vulnerabilities and their fears, while making them aware of the services that can help them deal with these challenges; and dedicating a meeting to the entire community. Mental well-being concerns families, schools, institutions, educational organisations, third-sector bodies and citizens. We would like the event on 6 November to speak to everyone: to those experiencing vulnerability and to those who stand beside them.

“For ours to become a community of care, teamwork is essential. A team that has not hesitated to place its trust in us in order to make this ambitious project a reality. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the Putignano Mental Health Centre and its Director, Dr Anna Maria Camposeo; to the “Majorana-Laterza” High School and its Principal, Prof. Angela Borrelli; to the Municipal Administration of Putignano; and to everyone who is helping to spread this vital message. We look forward to seeing you at the Theatre on Friday, 6 November,” says Giacomo Petrosillo, Vice President of APS Onde Culturali.

“The Putignano Mental Health Centre co-designed this initiative with the association Onde Culturali. We visited two classes at the “Majorana–Laterza” High School and created an opportunity for listening and discussion with the students on the subject of mental health. Using an interactive approach and creating a shared space for meeting, we discussed the potential vulnerabilities that may affect each of us and the professional figures we can turn to for help. It was an emotionally moving and enriching listening experience for everyone, which we will present at the Theatre on 6 November,” says Anna Maria Camposeo, Director of the Area 7 Mental Health Centre of Putignano.

“Openings: Letting Light Through Wounds” is organised by Onde Culturali APS and the ASL Bari Area 7 Mental Health Centre in Putignano, in collaboration with the “Majorana-Laterza” High School, Get Loud APS and Libreria Simone. The initiative has received the patronage of the City of Putignano, the Ombudsperson for the Rights of Children and Adolescents of the Apulia Region, and ASL Bari. Thanks to the support of Pietrantiche Accoglienza & Charme.

Participation in the event is eligible for the award of continuing-education credits by the Association of Social Workers of Apulia.

Attendance is recommended for those aged 14 and over.
Web: www.facebook.com/events/237...