In November 2023, a group of passionate youth workers gathered in Berlin, Germany, for the Erasmus+ training course “MindMentor: Strengthening Youth Resilience & Well-being.” This project brought together people from different countries and backgrounds, all with one shared goal: to learn how to better support young people facing mental health challenges. The course focused on helping youth workers develop new tools, learn about early intervention, and create safe spaces for youth to talk openly about their emotions and mental struggles. In a world that is constantly changing, this project felt more relevant and urgent than ever.
For a youth worker from Lithuania, the training came at a very important time. In recent years, young people in Lithuania have been facing many difficulties. The pressure to succeed in school, unstable home environments, and the impact of social media have made life more stressful for many teenagers. According to several local surveys, the number of young people dealing with anxiety and depression has increased. At the same time, mental health is still a topic that is not often talked about in families, schools, or even in youth centers. Many youth workers feel helpless when they see that young people are struggling but do not know how to offer the right kind of support. Tavo Evropa, a youth-focused NGO in Lithuania, has long worked to support personal development and participation in international projects, but there was a clear gap when it came to mental health training. The need to address youth mental well-being and empower them to overcome emotional challenges had become stronger than ever.
The Berlin training experience opened new doors and brought fresh inspiration. One of the most eye-opening parts of the course was learning how to create “safe spaces”—environments where young people can feel free to express their emotions without fear of being judged or misunderstood. In Berlin, the local community demonstrated how youth centers, schools, and NGOs worked together to offer supportive environments. It was amazing to see how simple practices, such as regular check-ins, group activities, and mindfulness exercises, could make such a big difference in the way young people communicated and built trust with adults. These practices were not expensive or complicated, but they required commitment and patience.
Another important moment came during a workshop on resilience. Many youth workers, including the participant from Lithuania, had always thought of resilience as something people were born with. But during the training, it became clear that resilience is a skill that can be learned and practiced. With the right guidance, even the most vulnerable youth can learn how to cope with difficult emotions, manage stress, and believe in their ability to overcome challenges. The idea that resilience could be taught gave new hope and motivation.
What also stood out was the opportunity to learn from other participants. People from different countries shared how they supported youth mental health in their own communities. From school programs in Spain to peer-to-peer support groups in Poland, the training was a rich mix of knowledge, ideas, and best practices. There was a strong sense of international solidarity. Everyone agreed that mental health is not only a personal issue—it is a social one, and it requires community-based solutions.
After returning home to Lithuania, the participant from Tavo Evropa felt deeply motivated to turn this learning into action. Together with their team, they developed a new youth-led initiative called “Mind Circles.” The idea was to create weekly support groups where young people could come together in a safe, informal space to talk about mental health, learn coping skills, and support each other. Each session included simple tools learned in Berlin—such as breathing exercises, storytelling, drawing emotions, and practicing active listening. The sessions were led by youth workers but shaped by the needs and voices of the young participants themselves. One of the core goals was to empower youth not only to understand their emotions but also to help others by becoming mental health ambassadors in their schools or communities.
The impact of “Mind Circles” was visible almost immediately. At first, only a few young people joined. But word quickly spread that this was a different kind of space—one without pressure or judgment. More and more teenagers, especially those who were usually quiet or left out, began to participate. They shared their stories, fears, and dreams, and they started to build strong connections with others who had similar feelings. Teachers and parents also noticed positive changes. Some students who used to avoid school began to attend more regularly. Others became more open in class and started taking small leadership roles.
Beyond individual change, the initiative also began to shift the community’s view on mental health. Tavo Evropa organized a small local event where young people from the “Mind Circles” program shared what they had learned and created a wall of messages encouraging others to care for their mental well-being. Local decision-makers and educators were invited, and for the first time, mental health was discussed openly in a public setting. The youth participants spoke with courage, and their words had a strong effect. Some schools expressed interest in including similar activities in their programs. A few local NGOs reached out to offer support or collaboration. Even though the project was still small, it planted seeds for a more open and supportive approach to youth mental health in the region.
This experience also had a personal impact on the youth worker. Before the training, they sometimes felt unsure about how to talk to young people about emotional problems or how to support them when things got serious. The training helped build confidence and gave practical tools that could be used every day. Most importantly, it reminded them of the true power of youth work—not to solve every problem, but to listen, believe, and stand beside young people as they learn to believe in themselves.
Looking ahead, the goal is to keep growing this movement. More “Mind Circles” are planned for the next school year, and Tavo Evropa hopes to train other youth workers in smaller towns to run similar programs. The vision is to create a network of empowered youth and supportive adults who are not afraid to talk about mental health, ask for help, and offer it to others. This is not just about reducing mental health problems—it is about building stronger, more resilient communities where every young person feels seen, heard, and valued.
The “MindMentor” project showed that change does not always come from big actions. Sometimes, it begins with a safe space, a shared story, or a deep breath. Youth have the potential to become powerful changemakers, especially when they feel supported and understood. With the right tools and the right people beside them, they can turn challenges into strength and support each other toward a better future. Projects like this one remind everyone that real empowerment begins with care, connection, and courage.