Our long time partners and friends from ENGSO Youth held two workshops on youth participation and mental health in sports in both Debrecen and Miskolc, during the European Universities Games 2024. 

In relation to the Youth Individual Sports Mindset (YouMind) project, Ms Alessia De Iulis, representing ENGSO Youth, led the workshops on the importance of mental health for young people. 

During the workshop in Miskolc, Ms Alessia provided key information on the prevalence of mental health issues among young people and discussed the benefits of sports for mental health.

She also offered strategies for young people to promote mental well-being, emphasizing the importance of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being within the grassroots sports sector.

On July 15 in Debrecen, a dynamic workshop aimed at empowering young volunteers from diverse backgrounds took place. ENGSO Youth, the youth arm of the European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation, focuses on youth goals and promoting sustainable development through sports. Their mission is to foster youth empowerment, encourage participation in sports, and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ms. Alessia De Iulis delivered an inspiring session on the crucial role of mental health in sports and the significance of youth participation. She highlighted the mental health benefits derived from sports, offering valuable insights into the prevalence of mental health issues among young people. Alessia emphasized the importance of supporting mental health in grassroots sports and ensuring healthy lives for young athletes.

The workshop also covered youth participation steps and leadership involvement, stressing how young people can actively contribute to and shape their sports communities. A significant highlight was the discussion of the You Mind project, a collaborative initiative between ENGSO Youth, EUSA, CUS Salerno A.S.D., and MEAFC. This project aims to create awareness and strategies for improving mental health support in sports.

The event was marked by an active atmosphere, with participants deeply engaged and motivated by the empowering discussions. The emotional cheers and enthusiastic support for each other's ideas created bonding moments, underscoring the collective commitment to fostering a healthier, more inclusive sports environment for all young people.

As part of the activities of the YouMind project, we have launched a survey on mental health. The survey is part of data gathering in the project, aiming to raise awareness of the importance of mental health. 

YouMind is a two-year project funded by the European Union and coordinated by the EUSA Institute (SLO). Project partners include the EUSA Institute (SLO), ENGSO Youth (SWE), University of Miskolc Sports Club MEAFC (HUN), and CUS Salerno (ITA).