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Together for Mental Health Awareness

2020-1-UK01-KA105-0783462020Youth mobilityfinalizedGood practice
Countries: UK|AT|BG|CZ|TR|NL|ES|EL|IT|LT · Grant: €25,527
Inclusion - equityIntercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learningHealth and wellbeing

Objectives

We implemented this project because there is rising number in youth and adults are battling with mental and behavioural disorders.They are afraid to talk about their problems which leads them to isolation & segregation. We wanted to start breaking this stigma that stops people getting the help they desperately need. These stıgma & prejudice are widespread and affect every aspect of mental health, including whether people seek & receive help. Our NGO has been working actively in maintaining healthy mind and we are helping youth workers and young people combat mental health challenges. EU's Youth Strategies include; to sustain "health & well-being" - to promote inclusion, mental health, physical activity & healthy lifestyles, and to raising awareness of how intercultural learning can help achieve these goals. We work in line with EU strategies and priorities because mental illnesses are a growing public health concern, have become Europe’s one of the greatest health challenges of the 21st century andThe prevalence of mental illnesses are also a major cause of death, disability, & economic burden, WHO predicted that by 2020, depression would be the second leading contributor to the global burden of disease across all ages. Depression and anxiety are the main contributor to the burden of suicide and ischemic heart disease (Mental Health Foundation UK). NHS states -one in four of us will have problems with our mental health at some point in our lives, with Covid19 the number of people affected by mental health issues has shown spike. WHO Europe also underlines that in EU countries 27% of the adult population (defined as aged 18–65) had experienced at least one of a series of mental disorders in the past year (e.g., substance use, psychosis, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders). These figures represent an enormous human toll of ill health, with an estimated 83 million people being affected in Europe. With all these increasing numbers there is still not enough done to prevent it. Still one in fifteen had made a suicide attempt at some point in their life. Governments, public sector, NGOs and as individuals there is so much more we can do to change this, prevent it. Our Aim Inclusion and wellbeing of our societies through supporting communities who have mental health challenges and face segregation; Training the youth workers/ professionals and youth leaders to supporting activities to prevent mental health disorders mainly caused by exclusion. Our objectives To support NGOs, youth workers, youth in gaining a broader perspective on inclusion through mental health awareness & to break the stigma To improve quality of lives by introducing communities to how to cope with stress with interactive and fun activities that improved their analytical, decision-making, social and foreign languages competences; To increase the capacity of partner organisations to address the mental health educational needs of young people in their communities, To provide participants with the equal opportunity to exchange knowledge, expertise and experience in the field of wellbeing and personal development, To develop youth workers' competencies and facilitation skills for their personal, social and emotional growth using non-formal methodologies; To give youth the opportunity to practice public speaking in order to overcome their fears and shyness through various non formal exercises & activities. To promote diversity, intercultural and inter-religious dialogue, promote European values, tolerance and respect of human rights among the participants; To promote and to enhance intercultural learning in the field of youth work; To uncover the participants true potentials, and to inspire them to take active roles as multipliers in their communities; To offer the opportunity to build networks of international contacts, to actively participate in society and to develop a sense of European citizenship and identity. With this project we had the opportunity to draw particular attention to alarming mental health issues and to work together to make a positive impact on our current and future generations.We emphasised the importance of understanding these health challenges, helped break the stigma that stops people seeking help and suffer in silence. We sought for collaborative solutions by providing youth workers a safe platform for sharing, discussing & learning from one another. New skills are passed on to the youth they work in daily basis, their societies, friends and families. Our project was in line with 'EU's Youth Strategies' -to sustain "health & well-being" - to promote mental health in youth work, sport, physical activity & healthy lifestyles and to raise awareness of how intercultural learning can help achieve these goals. EU 2020 priority is also wellbeing, inclusion which is one of our main topics we addressed throughout our project.

Project partners (10)