Period: 24.10.2024-23.10.2028. Programme: COST Action https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA23153/

Institutions including the World Health Organisation and European Commission have called for urgent action to address societal challenges in mental health. Young people have been identified as particularly vulnerable and requiring urgent support.

The European Commission recently stated: “Europe is witnessing a worsening of the mental health of the younger generations”. YouthDMH is specifically designed to help in addressing this challenge. It will focus on the role that digital technologies can play in supporting the mental health needs of young people. Overall, it will consider the ways in which technology can support mental health from the point at which young people first become aware of the difficulties, through to the delivery of large-scale evidence-based interventions. It will do so in a way that ensures young people and marginalised communities have a voice in envisaging the future.

The core aim is to maximise the positive application of technology, whilst also mitigating the potential negative impact. The YouthDMH COST Action will establish a sustainable pan-European network, that is inclusive, interdisciplinary and intersectoral. It will support knowledge transfer, creation and dissemination and lay the foundations for coordinated research on the use of technology to support mental health in young people.

Activities throughout the Action will help bridge the gap between research and practice. The Action will also provide policy guidance and recommendations for government, civil organisations and funding bodies.

EKA representative, Associate Professor Kristine Uzule is engaged in CA23153 as a Member of the Working groups:

• WG1 - Inclusion, youth engagement and inter-disciplinary innovation
• WG5 - Policy, Impact and Disseminations.