Katarzyna Kieca, Monika Garczarczyk, Martyna Piankowska, Patrycja Urban Report on the HUMANITAS Global Congress of Flourishing (8–10 October 2025, Sosnowiec, Poland)

On 8–10 October 2025, the international HUMANITAS Global Congress of Flourishing was held in Sosnowiec, Poland. The event focused on issues of individual and societal well-being from an interdisciplinary perspective. The Congress was organized by Akademia Humanitas and held in a hybrid format: the first two days were on-site at the university, while the third day was held online. The Congress brought together scholars, practitioners, and students from numerous countries, and presentations were delivered in both Polish and English.

The event was held under the honorary patronage of the National Centre for the Prevention of Addictions. Moreover, scientific patronage was provided, among others, by the Committee on Public Health of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Polish Social Psychology Association, the Polish Society of Clinical Psychology, the Polish Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, the Women in Science Foundation – Polish Network of Women Scientists, and the Experior Psychological Research Circle. Strategic sponsors included the Ariadna Research Panel and PWN Scientific Publishers, while the main media patron was Forum Akademickie. Additional media partners included the magazines Charaktery and Psychologia w Praktyce.

Day 1 – 8 October 2025

Representatives of the Akademia Humanitas authorities and institutional partners inaugurated the Congress on the first day. The opening session featured plenary lectures presenting a broad range of approaches to well-being and mental health. The plenary presentations addressed, among other topics, collectivist approaches to coping (Ben C. H. Kuo), the spiritual needs of people with chronic illnesses (Arndt Büssing), the integration of mental health constructs and personality determinants (Jan Cieciuch), and forgiveness as a factor contributing to well-being (Loren L. Toussaint, Jon R. Webb, Colwick Wilson).

Day 2 – 9 October 2025

The program of the second day opened with an inaugural lecture on attitudes toward values in the scouting environment (Bogusław Śliwerski). Subsequently, the proceedings continued in parallel across three separate conference spaces within several thematic sections. The research exploration focused on practical aspects of well-being and comprised eight thematic sessions that presented a wide spectrum of studies in psychology, education, spirituality, and interpersonal relationships.

The first session, titled “Future-Ready Education,” addressed the challenges facing education in the digital, globalized era. Speakers discussed the importance of future-oriented competencies and the role of teachers in fostering students’ psychological resilience. The subsequent session, “Psychological Well-Being in a Changing World,” focused on mental well-being in the context of dynamic social changes, including migration, cultural transformations, and the climate crisis.

The third session, “Mind, Body, and Beliefs,” focused on the interrelationships between mental and physical health and spirituality, demonstrating how religious practices and beliefs can support emotional balance. The fourth session, “Student Well-Being in Times of Change,” focused on the well-being of students and pupils amid educational and social transformations, emphasizing the importance of emotional support and the development of soft skills in academic settings.

During the fifth session, “Flourishing in Life’s Complexity,” multidimensional aspects of human flourishing were discussed, including relationships, a sense of meaning, mindfulness, and stress resilience. The sixth session, “Faith, Values, and Community,” analyzed the impact of religion, value systems, and community on meaning and belonging, highlighting spirituality as an important pillar of mental health.

The seventh session, “Healing Connections,” addressed the significance of interpersonal bonds, belonging, and social support in processes of psychological and professional recovery. The final session of the day, “Identity, Resilience, and Creative Expression,” presented creativity and artistic expression as forms that support psychological resilience and adaptation to difficult life experiences.

Day 3 – 10 October 2025

The third day of the Congress was held online and comprised six thematic sessions devoted to global, educational, and social dimensions of well-being.

The first session, “Migration & Global Well-Being,” focused on well-being in the context of migration, mobility, and refugee experiences. It addressed the adaptation challenges individuals face when moving between cultures, as well as the spiritual needs of refugees. The second session, “Meaning, Identity and Social Values,” explored issues related to meaning in life, identity, and social values. Presenters analyzed phenomena such as narcissism, fascination with violence in the media, and their impact on mental health.

The third session, “Youth, Education & Mental Resilience,” concentrated on youth mental resilience and the role of education in fostering it, as well as on group therapy and learning addiction. The fourth session, “Resilience, Vulnerability and Recovery in Contemporary Poland,” examined relationships between vulnerability and psychological resilience, emphasizing the importance of hope and recovery processes in the face of social difficulties.

The fifth session, “Gender, Mental Health & Value Conflicts,” was devoted to the interrelations between gender, mental health, and value conflicts. Presentations addressed issues such as compulsive pornography use, violence in marital relationships, and the impact of chronic pain on emotional functioning.

The sixth and final session, “Diverse Paths to Well-Being,” highlighted varied pathways leading to human flourishing. Topics included addictions, remote work, and athletes’ motivation, demonstrating that well-being is both individual and multifaceted.

At the conclusion of the Congress, Prof. Adrianna Mendrek delivered the closing lecture, titled “Mindfulness and Flourishing: From Historical Roots to Modern Applications.”

Summary

The Congress concluded with a reflective panel discussion, during which participants emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary exchange of knowledge and experience in research on well-being. Attention was drawn to the need for further international cooperation and for the practical implementation of research findings in the fields of education, public health, and clinical psychology. During the Congress, scientific awards were also presented: in the Experienced Researcher category, the award was granted to Prof. Edyta Charzyńska from the University of Silesia, and in the Early-Career Researcher category, the award was presented to M.A. Emilia Malicka from Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce. The awards were funded by the Ariadna Research Panel.