Youth Mental Health Lab#1 - Bolgaria

Organised by BDA, Sofia/online, 7. 1. 2025

We’re excited to share highlights from the “Youth Mental Health Lab” workshop organized by the Bulgarian Development Agency as part of the MEET Project! This initiative focuses on enhancing mental health support for young people, especially those from vulnerable social groups. The Lab have been conducted online on 7th of January 2025.

Key Goals of the Living Lab:

· In short present the MEET project to participants and let them know more about the Youth centered best practice catalogue.

· Address youth mental health challenges, with a focus on vulnerable groups in Bulgaria.

· Collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including public institutions, formal and non-formal education sectors, youth organizations, and social services, to co-create solutions. In the 1st Lab we had representatives of professional organizations, NGOs, State Child Protection Agency (Government) and the National Association of the Municipalities in Bulgaria.

· Discuss innovative and sustainable approaches to support youth mental health in real-life contexts.

Highlights from the First Living Lab Bulgaria:

· Identified key youth mental health challenges in Bulgaria. The participants divided the process of improving mental health into three steps:

1. Prevention

2. Providing psychological help

3. Rehabilitation

· The participants reached agreement that in the step 1 and 3 are the areas where most improvements can be reached.

· The participants further explored solutions to these challenges, to be further developed in upcoming project phases.

The second workshop is planned for March 2025.