Youth Well Project Concludes, Empowering European Youth to “Break the Silence” on Mental Health

The EU-funded Youth-Well project successfully wrapped up to foster youth empowerment, mental health, and democratic participation with an engaging final event, the “Podcast – Breaking the Silence: Speaking Openly about Youth Mental Health”, held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the WindMill Workspace in Nicosia.

The event, which fostered dialogue and inspiration, marked the official end of the Youth Well project, which addressed challenges at the intersection of European youth, mental health, democracy, and resilience.

A Project Built on Empowerment and Action

A core goal of the Youth Well initiative was to connect young people across participating Member States so they could take ownership of their future, their mental health, and their participation in democracy. The project actively helped young people set up their own initiatives and projects that equally advocate for mental health and active citizenship.

Throughout its duration, the Youth Well project delivered significant resources and activities, including:

• Advocacy activities across Europe specifically targeting European youth.
• Training manuals for youth workers focused on mental health and democracy.
• An e-learning platform designed to build essential leadership skills.
• International conferences for emerging youth advocates.

Final Event Fosters Open Dialogue

The podcast, attended by a diverse audience of young people, advocates, and policymakers, delivered on its promise that “The change begins when we speak openly”. The panel facilitated a high-level discussion on how to destigmatise mental health, which the organisers emphatically declared “is not a taboo, but everyone’s business!”

The speakers who led the insightful conversation included:

• Ms. Poly Grigora, Expert by Experience & Mental Health Empowerment Advocate (Host).
• Ms. Eleni Antoniou, Blogger, Podcaster, and Journalist (Co-Host).
• Mr. Nicos Kettirou, Member of Parliament and Member of the Parliamentary Health Committee.
• Ms. Maria Diplarou, Social and Developmental Psychologist.

The final event highlighted the Youth Well project’s contribution in creating a space for youth to engage in democratic processes and promote their own mental well-being.

Learn more about the project here: https://youthwell.eu/