Supporting Mental Health Resilience among Youth in Cyprus
Project Overview
Project Overview
Supporting Mental Health Resilience among Youth in
Cyprus is a national initiative funded by the European
Commission through the Technical Support Instrument
(TSI) and implemented by the Ministry of Health in
collaboration with UNICEF. The research activities of the project are coordinated by CARDET.
The project was launched in response to the growing
mental health challenges experienced by young people in Cyprus, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a significant impact on their emotional wellbeing and disproportionately affected vulnerable groups.
The initiative focuses on strengthening youth mental health through prevention, early intervention, and
community-based support. By actively involving young
people in the design and development of services, the
project ensures that their voices, experiences, and needs shape future mental health policies and programmes. It also contributes to the development of Cyprus’ National Mental Health Strategy, promoting sustainable, inclusive, and evidence-based approaches aligned with international best practices.
Timeframe: October 2024 – February 2026
Target Audience & educational Level: Mainly Young People 14-18, Students, Parents, Researchers, Professionals, Youth, Policy makers, General public
Project Goals
Project Goals
The project aims to:
Promote positive mental health and wellbeing among young people.
Build resilience and supportive communities across Cyprus.
Encourage open conversations that reduce stigma around mental health.
Develop youth-friendly mental health promotion and prevention services at the municipal level, co-designed with young people.
Objectives
Objectives
The project works towards achieving the following
objectives:
Map the current state of youth mental health services and needs in Cyprus.
Develop a youth engagement framework that ensures meaningful participation in decision making.
Strengthen community-based mental health promotion and prevention services.
Build the capacity of professionals and frontline service providers working with young people.
Support the development of the National Mental Health Strategy for Cyprus, aligned with European and international best practices.
The project officially launched in October 2024, with the first awareness action on youth mental health, bringing together key stakeholders and initiating dialogue on strengthening mental health support for young people in Cyprus. In February 2025, youth engagement activities were carried out across Cyprus, ensuring young people’s perspectives informed the project’s development.
A comprehensive research report mapped the current landscape of youth mental health in Cyprus and provided evidence-based recommendations to strengthen services and inform future policy.
In February 2025, a high-level event presented the research findings and brought together policymakers, experts, practitioners, and young people to discuss priorities for improving mental health services and shaping future policy.
Four youth-led workshops, delivered in collaboration with local municipalities, created safe and inclusive spaces where young people discussed mental health, shared experiences, and co-designed ideas for future youth mental health initiatives.
From September to December 2025, the nationwide campaign #OnMyMind #MoreToSay encouraged open conversations about mental health, challenged stigma, and reminded young people that it is okay to seek support.
The project actively participated in youth events and festivals across Cyprus, raising awareness, engaging young people, and promoting dialogue on mental health resilience.
A series of workshops validated and refined youth-led concepts and digital platform features developed during the co-design process, ensuring they reflected young people’s needs and feedback.
Project partners visited Ireland to exchange knowledge on community-based youth mental health services, cross-sector collaboration, and meaningful youth participation, strengthening cooperation and sharing good practices.
A practical training programme equipped professionals working with young people with the knowledge and confidence to recognise mental health challenges, respond appropriately, and refer young people to relevant support services.
Held during the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the conference brought together policymakers, experts, and stakeholders to advance discussions on youth mental health, resilience, inclusion, and the importance of meaningful youth participation.
The project concluded by showcasing its key achievements, lessons learned, and future priorities, reaffirming the commitment to strengthening youth mental health through research, collaboration, and active youth engagement.
This project is funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument, and implemented by UNICEF, in co-operation with the European Commission. The project is carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Cyprus and CARDET that coordinates the project’s research activities with the support of the Cyprus Youth Council.
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