March 2 is World Adolescent Mental Health Day, World Tennis Day, and International Cat Rescue Day. On this day, decisions and events that have influenced politics, statehood, culture, and scientific and technological development in different parts of the world have taken place in different centuries.
World Adolescent Mental Health Day
This day was launched in 2020 at the initiative of Hollister. The initiative arose against the backdrop of the increase in anxiety and depressive disorders among young people and the need to talk more openly about emotional difficulties in adolescence. The day draws attention to psychological support, access to help, and the importance of a safe environment in the family and school.
Adolescence is associated with profound neurobiological changes, increased sensitivity to social evaluation, and the formation of self-identity. According to international studies, a significant proportion of mental disorders begin before the age of 18, but many adolescents do not seek help for fear of judgment or distrust of adults. Recognition of the problem at the societal level contributes to the early detection of difficulties and the reduction of long-term consequences for learning, relationships and physical health.
Interesting facts
About half of all mental disorders in adults begin before the age of 14, but most cases at this age remain unnoticed or are perceived as “complicated”.
The adolescent brain is particularly sensitive to social approval: the reward zones respond more actively to likes on social networks than in adults, which increases dependence on online approval.
In Ukraine, during the full-scale war, the number of adolescents seeking help from psychologists for anxiety, sleep disorders and symptoms of post-traumatic stress increased sharply, with some consultations taking place anonymously online.
Studies show that regular lack of sleep in adolescents increases the risk of depressive symptoms several times, and biological rhythms at this age are naturally shifted to a later bedtime.
In many countries, suicide is among the leading causes of death among adolescents, ahead of some chronic diseases, which emphasizes the scale of the problem.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, the level of anxiety and depression symptoms among adolescents in the world has increased so much that international organizations have started talking about a separate youth mental health crisis.
Ukrainian school psychologists note that adolescents are more likely to ask about communication difficulties, feelings of loneliness and loss of motivation than about academic problems.
World Tennis Day
World Tennis Day is celebrated every year on the first Monday of March. The holiday was launched in 2013 at the initiative of the International Tennis Federation with the aim of popularizing the game and expanding its accessibility in different countries. The date was chosen at the beginning of the active part of the season, when major tournaments start and interest in professional competitions grows.
Tennis in its modern form was formed in the late 19th century in Great Britain and quickly spread around the world. The International Tennis Federation coordinates the rules, the development of youth and professional sports, as well as the global competition calendar. World Tennis Day draws attention to the history of the game, its popularity and influence on the sports culture of different countries.
Interesting facts
The longest match in the history of professional tennis lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes at Wimbledon 2010 between John Isner and Nicolas Mayu, and the fifth set ended with a score of 70:68.
The first tennis balls were made of leather and stuffed with wool or hair, and the yellow color appeared only in the 1970s for better visibility on television.
Tennis has been a part of the Olympic Games since 1896, but from 1928 to 1988 it was excluded due to disputes between amateurs and professionals.
Ukrainian Elina Svitolina rose to third place in the world ranking in 2017, which was one of the highest achievements in the history of Ukrainian women’s tennis.
The first official Wimbledon tournament was held in 1877, and then only men participated in it, and women were allowed to compete in 1884.
The speed of service in professional tennis can exceed 230 km/h, and record figures were recorded at ATP tournaments.
In Ukraine, tennis began to develop actively at the end of the 19th century in Odessa and Kyiv, where the first clubs for playing on clay courts were created.
International Cat Rescue Day
This day is dedicated to drawing attention to the problems of homeless and abandoned animals, the need for their sterilization, vaccination and responsible placement. The initiative arose thanks to animal protection organizations and volunteers who are engaged in rescuing, treating and finding new homes for cats.
In many countries, on this day, information is disseminated about the adoption of animals from shelters, the rules of humane treatment and the importance of registering pets. The problem of homeless cats is associated with uncontrolled reproduction, abandonment of animals and the lack of systematic sterilization. International Cat Rescue Day focuses on the responsibility of owners and the role of communities in reducing the number of animals on the streets.
Interesting facts
On average, one unsterilized cat and its offspring can produce thousands of offspring in a few years, if the kittens also survive and reproduce.
Cats were domesticated over 9,000 years ago, and archaeologists have discovered a joint burial of a man and a cat in Cyprus, which indicates an early connection between humans and these animals.
In medieval Europe, the mass extermination of cats due to superstition contributed to an increase in the rat population, which indirectly affected the spread of the plague.
In Ukraine, there are many volunteer initiatives that evacuate cats from combat zones, treat them after injuries, and look for families both in Ukraine and abroad.
Cats are able to make over a hundred different sounds, while dogs – about ten, and they use some of their vocalizations specifically to communicate with humans.
In Japan, there are so-called “cat islands,” where the cat population far outnumbers the population, and the animals have become a local tourist attraction.
Studies show that purring in the frequency range of 25–150 hertz can promote tissue healing and reduce stress levels in humans.
Historical events on this day
1444 — Skanderbeg united the Albanian princes into the Lezgi League, creating a military-political alliance to jointly fight against the Ottoman Empire. The alliance was an attempt to consolidate the region’s disparate forces and organize long-term resistance to Turkish expansion in the Balkans.
1767 — King Charles III of Spain ordered the expulsion of the Jesuits from the country and its colonies, accusing the order of excessive influence on society and education. The decision was part of a broader anti-clerical policy of European monarchies in the 18th century.
1796 – French General Napoleon Bonaparte is appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Italian Army. This decision opens the way for him to launch a high-profile Italian campaign that strengthens his authority in France and makes him a key figure in European politics.
1807 – US President Thomas Jefferson signs a law prohibiting the importation of slaves into American ports. The document restricts the transatlantic slave trade, although slavery itself within the country continued to exist for several decades.
1836 – In Washington-on-the-Brazos, delegates from American settlers in Texas declare independence from Mexico. This step begins the brief existence of the Republic of Texas as a separate state.
1918 — The Ukrainian People’s Republic adopted the first law on Ukrainian citizenship, defining the legal principles of belonging to the new state in the conditions of the collapse of empires and war.
1918 — UNR troops entered Kyiv and ousted the Bolshevik forces, restoring control over the capital after fierce battles.
1923 — the first issue of Time magazine was published in the USA, which became the first national weekly news magazine with a clear editorial structure and an analytical approach to presenting information.
1933 — the premiere of the film King Kong, directed by Marian Cooper, took place. The film was distinguished by innovative special effects and became a landmark for the development of the adventure film and science fiction genre.
1943 — in the village of Koryukivka in the Chernihiv region, SS units and Hungarian military gendarmerie carried out a mass murder of civilians, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people. The punitive action became one of the greatest tragedies of the civilian population in Europe during World War II.
1949 — the world’s first non-stop flight around the Earth, which lasted 94 hours and was carried out on the American bomber Lucky Lady II, was completed. The flight demonstrated the capabilities of strategic aviation in the post-war confrontation.
1956 — France and Morocco reached an agreement to end the protectorate regime, as a result of which the country gained independence and restored statehood under the leadership of Sultan Mohammed V.
1962 — in Burma, the military led by General U Ne Win carried out a coup and established a regime that isolated the country from the outside world for decades.
1965 — The United States began systematic bombing of North Vietnam, expanding the scope of the war and drawing the region into a protracted military conflict.
1969 — fighting broke out on Damansky Island between the troops of the USSR and China, which became the most acute episode of the border confrontation between the two communist states.
1972 — The Pioneer 10 spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral, achieving the third cosmic velocity for the first time and transmitting detailed data about Jupiter, opening a new stage in the study of distant planets.
1983 — The first compact discs and players for them went on sale, which initiated the transition from analog media to digital music storage.
1993 — The Academy of Medical Sciences was founded in Ukraine as a national scientific center designed to coordinate research in the field of medicine and the implementation of new treatment methods.
