Johannes Sundelin, AER Vice President for Sustainability, Green Transition and Health will open the Conference “Mental Health Challenges in Today’s Youth – A Regional Perspective”, which will take place in Primorje-Gorski Kotar (HR) on 22-23 October in the context of the AER Working Group on Mental Health and will feature practices from all over Europe.
Interregional peer learning for complex problems
Current needs in terms of mental health and wellbeing are on the rise all over Europe in the context of polarisation and a decline in the popularity of human rights. Regions in the AER Working Group on Mental Health share concerns about suicide, violence at school and the impact of social media, fake news and isolation to name a few.
Youth mental health is therefore an important topic for the AER working group on mental health which has worked closely with the AER Youth Regional Network since its inception in Autumn 2023. The Chair of the YRN Thematic Committee on Mental Health, Jack Mc Laughlin, will also speak on a panel on the causes of mental health problems among young people.
The complexity of youth mental health requires interdisciplinary and intersectoral cooperation. Gathering international specialists and facilitating exchanges is therefore instrumental to developing policies and practices that work at the regional level.
New solutions to current challenges through an interdisciplinary approach
The conference is envisaged as an opportunity to share insights about risk factors and contemporary changes the younger generations are facing. Through the exchange of experiences, best practices and innovative approaches to prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of all types of addiction, risk behaviours and associated conditions, the conference aims to find potential new solutions to current challenges through an interdisciplinary approach based on cooperation.
About the Working Group on Mental Health
It’s possible to join anytime! All AER regions are welcome to join the group, please fill in this form to become a member of the Working Group, get updates and be able to contribute and shape the activities of the group.
The group addresses mental health, a pressing concern for regional policymakers, with the World Health Organization noting that one in four Europeans will experience a mental health problem in their lifetime.
An intersectional approach is necessary to tackle systemic issues such as discrimination and economic inequality. This group focuses on crucial topics like traumatic events, addictions, resilience, prevention, research, and dealing with bullying and hate speech.
It currently includes 13 regions: Norrbotten (SE), Donegal (IE), Brussels Capital (BE), Värmland (SE), Alba (RO), Västra Götaland (SE), Jönköping (SE), Zurich (CH), East Slovenia (SI), Västerbotten (SE), Poltava (UA), Odesa (UA), Primorje Gorski Kotar (HR). Several regions joined via the Youth Regional Network (Wallonia, Dibra, Tirana, Innlandet, Donegal, Salaj, Nordland, Donegal).
