Building on the four objectives set out in the approved application, the consortium aimed to: 1.Assess mental health literacy among at least 210 youth, 60 young people with dyspraxia and 90 youth workers across the three partner countries and consolidate the findings in a transnational comprehensive report. 2. Develop a methodology grounded in identified needs and produce a resource book to guide youth workers, youth organisations and young people in raising MHL among the 15–25 age group. 3. Design and implement a training format and train 12 youth workers to address MHL among 15–25 year-olds, with a focus on inclusive practice for young people with dyspraxia. 4. Create an online platform hosting interactive, web-accessible modules built on the resource book, the training format and reflective methods for use with youth.
The Mindful Minds project was initiated in response to the persistent gap in mental health literacy (MHL) among young people in Cyprus, Serbia and Bulgaria, and the limited capacity of youth workers to recognise, name and support mental health challenges in the young people they work with. According to the World Health Organisation, one in six people aged 15–19 worldwide lives with a mental health condition, and one in five young people in Europe aged 15–24 is affected by anxiety, depression or related disorders. Yet only 18–34% of young people experiencing high levels of distress seek professional help, and mental health literacy is not embedded in formal school curricula across the partner countries. The project paid specific attention to young people with Developmental Coordination Disorder (dyspraxia), a population at heightened risk of anxiety, low self-esteem and social exclusion, and yet rarely addressed in mainstream mental health education. The project responded to these needs by combining a transnational evidence-base, a co-created educational programme and a structured training pipeline for multiplier youth workers.