Young people’s mental health is being strengthened through extensive European cooperation

Häme University of Applied Sciences is taking part in a European project aimed at developing new ways of promoting young people’s mental health in communities, such as educational institutions and workplaces. HAMK’s share of EU Horizon funding amounts to half a million euros.

The aim of this recently launched research project is to shift the focus from individual, person-centred interventions to the development of a culture that supports the mental wellbeing of the whole community.

“The mental wellbeing challenges faced by young people are often addressed by offering support to the individual. However, individual support alone is not enough if a young person feels excluded from their community or if the learning environment does not support their wellbeing. Communities are a significant resource for young people if they are supported in the right way,” explains Principal Research Scientist Telle Hailikari from HAMK.

Particularly sensitive stages include transitions from one level of education to another and from study to working life. During these changes, familiar structures and communities shift, which can increase the risk of loneliness and social exclusion. The project is expected to strengthen young people’s engagement with their studies and communities, support transitions between different levels of education and into working life, and improve the early identification of young people in particularly vulnerable situations. Educational institutions in the region will gain access to tried-and-tested practices, and information on their effectiveness and cost-benefit ratios will help to allocate resources appropriately.

The four-year Together for Mental Health (Together4MH) project brings together researchers and professionals from various fields in Norway, Finland, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Sweden and Spain. The European Union has awarded the project approximately five million euros in Horizon funding.

Mental health services are also provided directly to organisations

In Finland, Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) brings expertise in well-being and pedagogy to the project, as well as experience in developing learning communities. HAMK is responsible for the work package in which measures to support mental health are planned and implemented in secondary and higher education in Finland, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. HAMK’s share of the project’s total funding is approximately half a million euros.

Researchers at HAMK’s Research and Development Unit for Higher Education Pedagogy (HEPeda) are focusing in particular on research and development work carried out at educational institutions as part of the project. Each participating organization also commits to sharing effective practices with new organizations.

“This is precisely where this project differs from many previous mental health projects: the goal is not merely to help individual young people once difficulties have already arisen, but to proactively strengthen the communities where young people study, grow up, and transition into the workforce,” says Liisa Postareff, director of HEPeda.