Welcome to the enchanting Rijeka, former European Capital of Culture, the seat of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, future European Region of Gastronomy and European Region of Sport!

In the context of the AER Working Group on Mental Health, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County is inviting all AER members to a conference on: Mental Health Challenges in Today’s Youth – A Regional Perspective, which will feature regional practices and experts from all over wider Europe.

Current needs in terms of mental health and wellbeing are on the rise all over Europe in a context of polarisation and a decline in the popularity of human rights. Recent events in the macroregion have raised concerns around violence at school and the impact of social media, fake news and isolation to name a few.

At global level there are major concerns around youth mental health, which is also a main topic for the AER working group on mental health and one raised by the YRN.

Mental health is a key resource for coping with the changes and crises that are occurring in our everyday lives. Economic crisis, explosion of violence, war migration and growing demographic change, further acceleration of digitization and introduction of artificial intelligence inevitably enhances social differences and the gap between those who have social and personal resources and those who are lagging behind.

The complexity of the topic of mental health, especially in the younger population, requires interdisciplinary and intersectoral cooperation. 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.

If you would like your region to be featured in the programme of this event, please contact AER Coordinator Policy & Knowledge Transfer Coordinator Johanna Pacevicius

Draft programme

Please note that the programme, practical information and registration form are all to be found directly on the event website

Photo credit: xbrchx