In commemoration of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, U-GIS organised two separate activities with a shared objective: Girl’s Day and Boy’s Night. These activities were conducted separately as a matter of fact that men and women often have different ways of expressing themselves and communicating their experiences. Hence, this program aimed to encourage participants to share their thoughts and feelings more openly and comfortably because nowadays people tend to talk with their online friends with some barriers. Aside from this event is also expected to provide a “short escape” for men and women from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives.
Girl’s Day was held on May 31, 2026 at Mimiti Coffee with 10 participants. While Boy’s Night was held earlier on May 12, 2026 at Kukuru Coffee with 9 participants. This initiative is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-Being. The activities, including hangout sessions, journaling, sharing experiences, and strengthening support systems, directly support SDG 3’s target of ensuring healthy lives and promoting
well-being for people of all ages. Here is what the women said about Girl’s Day:
“The event was so much fun… Thanks to Girl’s Day, I was able to take a break and reflect for a moment on what I truly want deep down. I realised that I’m not alone; there are people who actually face even tougher challenges than I do. We were able to share our experiences and motivate each other… We had so much fun yesterday..” — Dewi, Faculty of Sharia
well-being for people of all ages. Here is what the women said about Girl’s Day:
“The event was so much fun… Thanks to Girl’s Day, I was able to take a break and reflect for a moment on what I truly want deep down. I realised that I’m not alone; there are people who actually face even tougher challenges than I do. We were able to share our experiences and motivate each other… We had so much fun yesterday..” — Dewi, Faculty of Sharia
“Girls’ Day was surprisingly so much fun! We girls from UGIS could share together, vent together, and support one another 💖 I also gained new insights and learned new lessons from the experiences of these U-Girls. I’m so grateful I could attend this event because, besides sharing, we also indirectly practised self-love through the positive affirmations from the questions we answered. The facilitator was also amazing; they created a warmer atmosphere and made the connection feel even stronger. We definitely have to have a second part! 😍” — Dera, Faculty of Sharia
And here is what the boys said about Boy’s Night: “Here, we have a blast together, leave toxic masculinity far behind, and replace it with real solidarity. We definitely need to make this a regular thing—when else will we get an open discussion among men?🤝😁” — Palito, Faculty of Communication, Pacemaker of May
“At Boys’ Night, I felt like I had a safe space to share the worries I’ve been carrying, from personal issues to those involving others. There was no judgment because we all face similar challenges, even if the specifics differ. Besides venting my concerns, I also gained insights from my U-Guys friends on how to tackle some unresolved issues. I hope we can keep having boys’ nights like this, even outside of Mental Health Month..” — Satrio, Faculty of Economics and Business“In my opinion, it’s a really interesting, beneficial, exciting, and enjoyable activity; it’s like a home for us, men, who are struggling to find a place to voice our concerns and maintain our mental health, so we can feel more relaxed as we go about our lives.” — Ugas, Faculty of Education and Teaching
In addition, Mr Rama Arianto also mentioned: “Built and raised differently means that boys and girls have different needs and expectations when it comes to mental health management. During boys’ night, our members learned how to be vulnerable and provide safe spaces for one another to rejuvenate from whatever the world throws at them.” — Mr Rama Arianto, Lecturer of Urban and Regional Planning
Hence, the importance of this kind of event wasn’t just to commemorate the Mental Health Awareness Month, but to be a regular thing to strengthen the well-being of every human being.
