Free Hugs – Brazil (IFMSA-Brazil)

Name of the activity: Free Hugs

Country/NMO: Brazil (IFMSA-Brazil)

Program: Mental Health

Contact information: [email protected]

Type of the activity: Third Party Activities

General description:

When we adopted this campaign, we expected to give them all the hug power, which means not only just make happy, decrease anxiety, the blood pressure and the stress and transfer good energies, but also encourage them to create a closer relationship with the veterans and futures partners of Medicine. Hence, our action is very important for the mental health of the students before and after the entrance examination, and the participants develop skills needed on the future professional life.

Focus area:

Mental Health among the general population

Problem statement:

Our activity is needed because many studentes face anxiety and other issues before the entrance examination.

Target groups and beneficiaries:

College candidates

Objectives and indicators of success:

– Stimulate love, kindness and affection: the hug helps to increase oxytocin levels
-Decrease tension and anxiety: the hug helps to decrease cortisol level
-Show students how to demonstrate empathy and love to strangers: these actions are needed for the personal and professional growth.

Methodology:

On May 5, we will have our first planning meeting between the organizers, when we will decide the number of participants and the date of the activity. On May 25, 2017, we will have the second planning meeting, with the participants, in which we will explain about everything of the campaign. Finally, we will make all the adjustments related to the suggestions of the participants and we will make the posters. On June 4, we will meet at the front of the university UNIT, and when we approach the students, we will go into groups and offer a hug and then a candy, to facilitate the approach. At the end of the interaction, we will ask questions about the impact of our activity for them.

Plans for evaluation:

During the campaign, we will ask how the student is feeling about the entrance examination before the hug, and repeat the question before the hug and ask if it make them feel better.