The project aims to strengthen the capacities needed to support young people’s mental health in both formal and informal educational settings, focusing on three key areas:

• Organizing professional Mental Health Labs focusing on youth mental health, involving healthcare and education professionals as well as young people themselves, as part of an international collection of best practices.

• Developing and piloting inclusive, innovative, and youth-centered tools and educational materials for disadvantaged youth;
• Facilitating policy cooperation and knowledge transfer across the countries of the Danube Region.

On June 17, 2025, the HÉTFA Research Institute will host the “Mind Matters: Navigating Youth Mental Health Challenges, Best Practices, and Knowledge Sharing” conference in Budapest. The event aims to present the framework of the MEET project, explore the challenges affecting youth mental health, and provide a platform for knowledge exchange among professionals from different countries.

The afternoon session of the conference will include:

• Presentations by international and local experts focusing on youth mental health and available support mechanisms, illustrated with practical examples;
• A roundtable discussion featuring healthcare and social professionals, as well as sociologists, on the interlinkages between mental health and social inequalities.

Venue and time: Európa Pont (1024 Budapest, Lövőház utca 35.), June 17, 2025, 12:30–17:00

The registration platform can be accessed here.

[1] https://interreg-danube.eu/projects/meet

[2] https://interreg-danube.eu/

[3] https://www.zsi.at/en/home

The second lab organized with the involvement of the Együttható Association on February 18, 2025, focused on the mental well-being of young people. The event brought together not only young participants but also experienced professionals from the social and mental health sectors, as well as academia, who have extensive experience in addressing mental health challenges.

The workshop provided a space for identifying key issues through brainstorming. Among the challenges discussed, particular attention was given to loneliness, difficulties in forming connections, depression, and the increasing prevalence of self-esteem issues. Young people are under intense pressure to perform and navigate their identity, exacerbating anxiety and self-confidence problems. Additionally, young people with disabilities continue to face limited social acceptance and accessibility, often lacking advocacy and adequate support.

Beyond identifying challenges, the workshop also focused on developing potential solutions. Participants emphasized the importance of closer collaboration among professionals and the sharing of best practices to improve young people’s mental well-being.

The professional workshop, organised in partnership with the Együttható Association, aimed to explore the challenges related to the mental well-being of young people. The event provided an opportunity for dialogue between young people and experts. Particular emphasis was placed on open communication and mutual understanding of the parties present.

In December, an international webinar was held, focusing on current societal issues and possible solutions to mental health problems among young people. It focused on topics such as structural discrimination, the links between identity and mental health, support for NEET young people and the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on mental health.

Events of the MEET project play an important role in identifying challenges and solutions to mental well-being of young people. These events help to strengthen professional cooperation in the region, while contributing to the continuous development of youth support practices.

• In the field of youth work, MEET will develop and test inclusive youth-centred tools and curricula for educators, social workers, practitioners and young people at risk.
• MEET is setting up Youth Mental Health Labs involving different relevant organisations from health, youth services and education to create new and cross-sectoral collaborations in mental health and to disseminate knowledge on mental health.
• In the policy field, MEET will develop transnational strategies and local action plans for integrating mental health into education and make recommendations to policy makers on how to address the importance of mental health better in formal and informal education.

This project is supported by the Interreg Danube Region Programme project co-funded by the European Union.