January 19, 2026
The European Erasmus+ project “Mind the Gap: Building Mental Health Awareness in Youth Work,” which took place from November 23 to 30, 2025, at the Mindspark+ venue in Alexandroupoli, had as its main objective the empowerment of mental health in the youth sector.
As part of the project, 23 Youth Workers from Greece, Romania, Portugal, Lithuania, and Belgium engaged in a variety of experiential activities and non-formal learning workshops within a vibrant setting of dialogue, collaboration, and inspiration.
Mind the gap between …Theory and Practice!
Over these 7 days, participants interacted with the local community and focused on the practical application of the topics discussed. Specifically, within the framework of Mind the Gap activities, the trainees:
- Took to the streets to interview locals, regarding mental health stigma, daily stress, and youth aggressiveness.
- Held discussions with the NGO ARSIS about the challenges surrounding the mental health both of young refugees and the professionals who support them.
- Utilized modern digital tools, such as Virtual Reality headsets, to simulate mental health conditions (e.g., panic attacks, etc.) and to support youth well-being.
- Equipped themselves with personal “self-care toolkits” through targeted workshops on recognizing burnout and compassion fatigue.
- Created their own toolkit to help them confidently face the challenges and demands of daily contact with young people, while simultaneously safeguarding their own mental well-being.
The Next Step: Disseminating Knowledge to Society
However, the experience of “Mind the Gap” does not stop here: From now on, the participants act as multipliers, organizing local workshops in their respective countries using non-formal learning techniques, actively contributing to strengthening the emotional resilience of young people across Europe.
The Voice of the Participants
The program acted as a bridge between cultures, creating strong bonds among the youth. Their words capture the profound impact of the experience:
“It is a great privilege to spend a week learning about mental health, or what burnout looks like… it is an opportunity to take a week for ourselves so that we can help others do the same.” — Julie Thield, Belgium
“I believe this project was like a mirror for me to understand my own emotions and issues that I face daily… So, for me, it was a source of inspiration.” — Madalina Horvat, Romania
“In the 21st century, we don’t always take care of ourselves in the right way, so it is important to learn certain techniques and processes to take better care of ourselves.”
— Pedro Santos, Portugal
*This Project was conducted under the Erasmus+ programme. Funded by the European Union with the support of The Youth and Lifelong Learning Foundation (INEDIVIM).
