Once Upon a Mind

The Once Upon a Mind project successfully addressed the critical issue of youth mental health, which had been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The project responded to growing concerns around...

The Once Upon a Mind project aimed to foster innovation in youth work, education, and vocational training to address the growing mental health challenges faced by young people. The primary objective was to develop and implement preventive measures and early intervention tools to improve youth mental well-being, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the project, we sought to create a comprehensive toolkit consisting of an informative booklet, activity booklet, educational videos, and an interactive board game. These resources aimed to equip youth workers, educators, and VET trainers with practical methods to engage young people in mental health awareness, preventive practices, and recovery processes. Additionally, the project intended to strengthen the capacity of partner organizations to collaborate on a transnational level, promoting knowledge exchange and the development of innovative approaches. Ultimately, the project aimed to create long-lasting, scalable solutions that would improve youth mental health and well-being across Europe​.

The core of the project was the development of a comprehensive toolkit, which included an informative booklet detailing mental health issues and preventive strategies, an activity booklet featuring non-formal, interactive activities designed to promote mental well-being, educational animated videos to raise awareness in an engaging way, and an interactive board game aimed at educating young people about mental health through play. In addition, six multiplier events were held across partner countries (Iceland, Spain, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Finland) to disseminate the project’s results to key stakeholders, including youth workers, educators, and policy makers. A five-day training course was also conducted for 30 professionals, equipping them with the skills to use the developed materials in their own workshops. Throughout the project, regular transnational project meetings and monthly online meetings were held to ensure smooth coordination and progress across all activities​.

The Once Upon a Mind project delivered several concrete outputs and impactful results focused on improving youth mental health. The primary outputs included: 1. Informative Booklet: A comprehensive resource detailing mental health issues, prevention strategies, and recovery methods, aimed at youth workers, educators, and VET trainers. 2. Activity Booklet: A collection of interactive, non-formal activities designed to raise awareness and improve mental well-being, fostering youth participation and engagement in their own mental health. 3. Educational Videos: A series of animated videos that presented key mental health topics in an engaging, accessible way for young people, enhancing awareness and understanding. 4. Board Game: An interactive, educational game that raised awareness of mental health challenges while providing preventive strategies in a fun, relatable format for youth. The project also held six multiplier events across Europe to disseminate these outputs, reaching hundreds of youth workers and educators. Additionally, a five-day training session equipped 30 professionals with the knowledge to implement these resources in their respective fields. The project fostered transnational collaboration and improved the capacity of organizations to address youth mental health, ensuring sustainable, long-term impact across Europe​