The project aimed at: - enlarging the offer within EU of innovative training pathways in the field of youth - enlarging dialogue and awareness on an EU level on youth issues and problematics and mental health disorders. - enhancing the ability of youth workers and organizations to respond, through quality services, to young people's educational needs. - enlarging dialogue and awareness in the EU on mental health and recognition of non-formal education.
When referring to youth, the idea is for them to be comfortable in their own skin, develop self-confidence, and thrive socially as they grow-up. Unfortunately, some of them develop in the exact opposite direction being, for example, painfully self-conscious, afraid of rejection or embarrassment or uncomfortable in social settings. The anxiety they experience is known as Social Anxiety Disorder, a very intense condition and which can potentially interfere with every aspect of their life. Social Anxiety Disorder is indeed the third most common mental health disorder after depression and substance abuse and surprisingly (even if not so much analysed in depth), is common among young people. Why? Negative experiences – at home due to family conflict or at school due to bullying, for example – have a damaging effect on the development of their core cognitive and emotional skills. In the WHO European Region, depression and anxiety disorders fall into the top 5 causes of overall disease burden. The consequences and the impact? Really high. Academic attainment is curtailed, with individuals at risk of leaving school early and obtaining poorer qualifications (Van Ameringen et al. 2003).