Over the last few years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of reports on psychological diseases among European students. Conditions such as anxiety or depression may cause difficulties among the affected students meeting their requirements. It has an impact not only on one’s self-confidence but also on the students’ performance. In many cases, they show poor performances in school and find themselves exposed to social problems more often. An increasing number of psychological diseases among students concerns almost every European school and therefore poses a serious problem for European societies.

The transnational Erasmus+ project called “Mental Health for European Youth” addresses this issue. The participating schools in Homburg (Germany), Linz (Austria), Veroia (Greece) and Mafra (Portugal) have set themselves the task to prevent psychological problems among students by developing strategies strengthening psychological stability actively. Therefore, students, aged 15 to 18, will be working together transnationally in those four countries for a period of two years in order to develop sustainable improvements together and then implement them locally. The group will be made up of a heterogeneous mix of students, hence making it possible to include students with need for support such as special needs students and those with financial issues. During the two years, the students will be dealing systematically with different aspects of mental health and transnational student groups will meet at all of the four locations to exchange experiences and to carry out joint project activities. All partner schools will prepare and post-process these activities, implement them at the locations as well as develop and disseminate them.

In a first project phase, the participants will deal with theoretical backgrounds of mental health and create a booklet. Following on from there, the students will then design and build tools that will contribute to mental well-being. In a next step, the students will use the power of art and theatre to raise awareness of the issue and possible ways on how to deal with it. In a final component, students will get to know different coping strategies through sports and games so as to promote mental well-being.

This project, its implementation as well as its dissemination will support the participating schools and facilities in coping with this social problem sustainably and institutionally. The students taking part in the international exchange will broaden and strengthen their intercultural competences, their language and ICT skills as well as their cooperation capability, organizational skills and structured working. Dealing with the prevention of mental problems and coping strategies will help the participants to gain valuable perceptions for their own educational and occupational future and, therefore, enhance their resilience and own strength. Experiences abroad as well as getting to know different languages and cultures can reform their view of the European Union and make them become committed Europeans. Being an active European prepares them for further studies or life within Europe.

Since all partner schools will have an increasing number of students and teachers concerned with the tools to promote mental health and well-being, with the dissemination of project activities, they will become active participants and contributors to creating a positive atmosphere of well-being in their schools. Furthermore, the local, national and international dissemination process will benefit other schools in the field of promoting students' mental health and well-being.