Testing New Approaches to Mental Health in Youth Information Work: Piloting MINDYI
2025
Testing new approaches to Mental Health in Youth Information Work: Piloting MINDYI
In late September 2025, around 30 youth (info) workers, trainers, and psychologists from across Europe gathered in Samobor, Croatia, to take part in the pilot training of Do You Mind?, an Erasmus+ KA2 project on youth mental health.
The five-day training aimed to strengthen youth (info) workers’ capacity to support young people’s mental well-being, offering a space for exchange, reflection, and practical learning. Their experience and expertise brought a very dynamic and comprehensive approach and created a positive synergy where everyone learn from each other.
The training lasted five days and covered five areas:
Understanding Mental Health in YIW
Identifying Mental Health and Emotional Well-being of Young People
First-hand support techniques
When and How to Bring in Help
Youth Perspectives.
The training is based on a guide developed during the YIMinds project, targeting also youth (info) workers: the Mental Health Literacy in Youth Information Work Guidebook.
The focus was on communication, understanding where the role of a youth (info) worker begins and ends, the involvement of young people in fighting stigma, and the well-being of YIW to protect themselves from difficult situations. The participants recognised the importance of this (almost) exhaustive training on Mental Health and YIW. They particularly appreciated the session on the art of active listening that took place during a forest walk.
The training will be adjusted based on participants’ feedback and will be ready for delivery in 2026. ERYICA is in charge of adapting it to an eLearning format in the following months.
