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Healing You(th)

2025-1-PL01-KA152-YOU-0003021532025Mobility of young peopleongoing
Countries: PL|TR|CY|IT · Grant: €23,949.32
Physical and mental health, well-beingInclusion of marginalised young people

Objectives

The "Healing You(th)" project was initiated to address the growing mental health challenges faced by young people, as identified through discussions, workshops at schools, youth center activities, and evaluations from youth exchanges over the past six months. Key issues include overwork, difficulty staying present due to social media overuse, poor-quality peer relationships, and a lack of tools to manage stress and relax effectively. Many young people feel guilty about taking time for themselves, and mental health struggles often remain unspoken or misunderstood. Alarmingly, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1 in 7 children and adolescents aged 10-19 are affected by mental health conditions, with anxiety, depression, and behavioral disorders being among the most prevalent. This project aims to tackle these issues by promoting mindfulness, breaking the stigma around mental health, and empowering young people with practical tools to improve their well-being, while fostering lasting changes that extend beyond the project's duration. It also aligns with the objectives of the Erasmus+ programme and the Youth Exchange action, drawing inspiration from the European Youth Goals, particularly contributing to Goal 5 - Mental health and well-being. Objectives of the project are to: 1) Raise awareness - equip 20 young people and 4 group leaders with tools to maintain or improve their mental and physical health and their knowledge about well-being through non-formal methods. 2) Reduce the level of stress experienced by project participants - provide practical mindfulness classes daily. 3) Break stigma - encourage open discussions about mental health, normalize the conversation, and empower youth to seek help when needed. 4) Promote nutritional awareness - equip young people with the knowledge to critically assess information about "healthy food", helping them differentiate between myths and evidence-based nutrition through practical workshops and expert-led discussions. 5) Encourage active lifestyles and nature engagement - increase daily physical activity and connection with nature by incorporating movement-based activities, outdoor experiences, and exercises that can be easily integrated into their routines. 6) Build self-awareness and confidence - support young people in understanding and managing their mental health, fostering a sense of self-efficacy and resilience. 7) Foster social inclusion - help those struggling with mental health challenges feel part of a supportive, inclusive community, reinforcing the importance of peer support. In the perspective of youth work, we would like to test mindfulness session scenarios and various work methods during the project so we could also use them later as part of work at the youth center, conducting workshops in schools or planning the program of the next youth exchange. We also aim to create a mental health booklet together with the participants, which will not only allow them to summarize the knowledge acquired during the project, but will also serve us and partner organizations in working with local youth. By implementing this project, we aim to improve the quality of lives of participants by equipping them with practical tools and strategies to enhance their mental health and overall well-being.

Project partners (4)