The Closing Event of the project “Supporting Mental Health Resilience among Youth in Cyprus” took place on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, at CARDET’s premises in Nicosia, marking the successful completion of a 26-month EU-funded initiative. The event brought together representatives of the European Commission, UNICEF, national and local authorities, youth organisations, professionals, and young people to reflect on the project’s outcomes and future perspectives.
Implemented with the technical support of the European Commission (SG REFORM), UNICEF, and the Ministry of Health in Cyprus, and in close cooperation with national stakeholders such as the Cyprus Youth Council, the Youth Board of Cyprus, CARDET, the Municipality of Lakatamia, and the Municipality of Kourion, the project aimed to strengthen youth mental health promotion and prevention, while enhancing meaningful youth participation in policymaking in Cyprus.
Addressing participants, Mrs Maria Evangelou, Officer of Nursing Services, on behalf of Mr Evagoras Tampouris, Director of Nursing Services at the Ministry of Health, reflected on the project’s long-term relevance, stating: “Although the project is coming to an end, its impact remains alive, offering practical tools and approaches that will continue to strengthen the mental resilience of young people in Cyprus”.
In a video-recorded message, Mrs Judith Rozsa, Director at SG REFORM of the European Commission, highlighted the project’s European significance: “This project is a prime example of how EU funding can support Member States in building capacity across sectors to address healthy lifestyles and prevent mental health problems among youth and children”.
From UNICEF’s perspective, Mrs Aida Ailarova, Adolescent Development Specialist, UNICEF Europe and Central Asia, representing Mr Octavian Bivol, Deputy Director of UNICEF Europe and Central Asia, emphasised the importance of sustainability and cross-sectoral collaboration, noting: “Youth mental health is fundamental for resilient and sustainable societies. This project has highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration and meaningful youth participation, laying strong foundations for long-term, sustainable interventions in Cyprus”.
Representing the Youth Board of Cyprus (ONEK), Mrs Glykeria Kalamata, on behalf of Mrs Maria Miltiadou, Deputy Executive Director, underscored the central role of young people throughout the project’s implementation, stating: “Through this project, young people were given a voice to shape mental health services and contribute meaningfully to the National Youth Strategy”.
Project Achievements and Youth Engagement
During the session “Project Achievements and Journey – Key Outcomes, Milestones, and Impact Highlights”, Dr Charalambos Vrasidas, Executive Director of CARDET, presented the project’s main achievements, including participatory research processes, youth-informed policy tools, and strengthened multi-stakeholder cooperation.
“CARDET, working closely with all partners, actively supported the design and implementation of participatory processes that placed young people at the center. This project demonstrates that research, innovation, and community engagement can lead to tangible and actionable policy changes”.
This was followed by a panel discussion titled “Youth Voices: Experiences and Perspectives”, featuring contributions from Maria Diplarou, President of the Cyprus Youth Council; Maria Peyioti, Psychiatry Resident and Chair of the Health Committee of the 6th Youth Parliament (2023–2024) and Andreas Panayiotou, Podcaster and project workshop participant. Moderated by Nikolas Athinis, Youth, Rights, and Inclusion Team Leader at CARDET, the discussion highlighted lived experiences, stigma reduction, and the need for accessible, youth-friendly mental health services.
A Firechat session titled “Youth & Municipalities: Young People Ask, Municipalities Reply!” followed, with the participation of Michalis Xypsitis, Deputy Mayor of Tseri (representing the Municipality of Lakatamia), and Valentina Michael, Chief Executive Secretary of the Municipality of Kourion. Moderated by Andreas Panayiotou, the session facilitated direct dialogue between young people and local authorities.
Closing Remarks and Future Outlook
Mrs Anahit Minassian, Youth Mental Health Technical Support Coordinator at UNICEF Europe and Central Asia, outlined key outcomes achieved in Cyprus, including the adoption of a National Mental Health Strategy developed in close cooperation with young people, the prioritisation of mental health within the National Youth Strategy 2030, the introduction of a dedicated budget line for youth engagement, and the launch of the first National Campaign on Youth Mental Health. As she noted, “This initiative demonstrates how meaningful youth participation can translate into lasting policy and systemic change”.
Mr Alexandros Tifas, Mental Health Nursing Officer at the Ministry of Health, highlighted the human-centred nature of the initiative, stating: “This was not just a project of deliverables, but a shared journey that brought us closer to the real needs of young people”.
On behalf of the European Commission, Ms Hana Lucić, Policy Officer at SG REFORM, expressed her warm regards to all partners and remarked: “The commitment and collaboration demonstrated serve as an excellent example of how reform initiatives can achieve real social impact”.
The Closing Event of the “Supporting Mental Health Resilience among Youth in Cyprus” project reaffirmed the shared commitment of all stakeholders to ensure that youth mental health remains a policy priority, embedded sustainably across health, social, educational, and community systems in Cyprus.
Learn more about the project and find available the report: https://cardet.org/projects/supporting-mental-health-resilience-among-youth-in-cyprus/
Target Groups
Students, Parents, Researchers, Professionals, Youth, Policy makers, General public
