NEW YORK—Project Healthy Minds marked World Mental Health Day with purpose, hosting its fourth annual World Mental Health Day (WMHD) Festival on Oct. 10. The vibrant, day-long agenda served as a convergence of culture-makers, thought leaders, and advocates united by one shared goal: to dismantle stigma and spark real conversations around mental health. Now the largest of its kind held in honor of WMHD, the festival encouraged attendees to lean into difficult topics many still shy away from—examining the toll of social media influencers, body image in the age of GLP-1s, and how to better support boys and young men.
The momentum began the evening before, at the third annual Project Healthy Minds Gala, a powerful prelude to the WMHD Festival. There, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were recognized as Humanitarians of the Year Award for their commitment to mental wellness through The Archewell Foundation, the “show up, do good” nonprofit they founded in 2020.
Prince Harry and Megan Markle, co-founders of The Archewell Foundation, received the Humanitarians of the Year Award at the Project Healthy Minds Gala, which takes place annually the evening before the WMHD Festival. Photo: Courtesy of Project Healthy Minds
Produced and designed by Rafanelli Events for the second consecutive year, the gala celebrated Project Healthy Minds’ growing impact, spotlighting initiatives like its Digital Mental Health Marketplace, Anti-Stigma Campaigns, and Corporate Coalition, which together reach more than 200,000 people each year.
“The design emphasized natural textures, soothing tones, and a fluid sense of movement—creating a restorative environment that balanced sophistication with serenity,” said Bryan Rafanelli, the founder and chief creative officer at Rafanelli Events.
While the aesthetic carried an air of refinement, it was intentionally “elegant, but never overly formal,” Rafanelli added. “We wanted guests to feel at ease, to share conversation and emotion. That balance of gravitas and warmth came through in the lighting, scale, and materiality of the space.”
The likes of Deepak Chopra, Katie Couric (pictured left), and Sophia Bush examined the toll of social media on influencers, body image in the age of GLP-1s, and how to better support boys and young men, among other topics that dismantled stigmas around mental health. Photo: Courtesy of Project Healthy Minds
Programming also featured a “Move” track, where expert trainers from Lululemon and Equinox led guided meditation sessions, low-impact strength workouts, vinyasa yoga, and more. Photo: Courtesy of Project Healthy Minds
Only 12 hours after the gala, the WMHD Festival officially kicked off—a remarkably quick turnaround, noted Nicole Barbour, director of event sales at Spring Studios. The Tribeca venue, which also hosted the gala the night before, represented a shift from the festival’s previous location in Hudson Yards.
In a fitting reflection of the event’s message of openness and inclusion, attendance was free, requiring only a simple registration—or patience on the waitlist. In all, more than 2,000 guests attended the WMHD Festival, which spanned 35,000 square feet of the venue.
Despite the lack of an entry fee, the programming was anything but modest. The “Convene” track drew a star-studded roster that included Deepak Chopra, Katie Couric, and Sophia Bush, alongside leaders and ambassadors from Lululemon, Equinox, and Women’s Health.
Various touchpoints throughout the venue invited guests to pause, reflect, and turn inward. Photo: Courtesy of Project Healthy Minds
Though the festival tackled serious topics, it also made room for lighthearted, playful moments that nodded to mental health. Photo: Courtesy of Project Healthy Minds
The “Move” track encouraged guests to tap into their mind-body connection through guided meditation sessions, low-impact strength workouts, vinyasa yoga, and the playfully titled “Run and Walk Club That Only Meets Once a Year.”
Meanwhile, the “Nourish” track invited attendees to refuel and reflect through curated food stations powered by the PepsiCo Foundation, with Nespresso helming a specialty coffee bar—spotlighting coffee as a small but meaningful mindfulness ritual in a morning routine.
The PepsiCo Foundation curated a snack bar as part of the event’s “Nourish” offerings. Photo: Courtesy of Project Healthy Minds
Nespresso helmed an on-site coffee bar. Photo: Courtesy of Project Healthy Minds
Nespresso’s coffee bar highlighted the simple yet meaningful mindfulness ritual that a morning cup of coffee can provide. Photo: Courtesy of Project Healthy Minds
A particularly poignant moment awaited on Spring Studios’ rooftop, where guests encountered “The Lost Screen Memorial,” a powerful installation honoring children who lost their lives due to the harms of social media. Each image appeared on a digital screen designed to replicate an iPhone or Android lock screen, mirroring what the parents of each child still keep on their own devices today.
The impact of Project Healthy Minds’ WMHD Festival programming—produced by Overland Entertainment—reached beyond its attendees, resonating with the very teams that helped bring it to life.
“This program deeply moved our employee team at Spring Studios,” Barbour said. “Like any venue, we often see commercial events move through our space, and the purpose behind this important program brought employee conversations forward that are just one small example of the halo effect of this critical work.”
“The Lost Screen Memorial” was a moving installation honoring children who lost their lives due to the harms of social media. Each digital screen mirrored what the parents of each child still keep on their own devices today. Photo: Courtesy of Project Healthy Minds
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