Technical Support Instrument supports reforms to improve young people's mental health and wellbeing

Mental health and wellbeing among children and young people are a growing concern in Europe. This is why, today, the Commission has launched a two-year multi-country project to support four Member States undertake reforms to improve the provision of mental health and wellbeing support to this target group.

With this Technical Support Instrument (TSI) project, the Commission in collaboration with UNICEF will work with the authorities of Cyprus, Slovenia, Italy and Spain (specifically Andalusia), to strengthen Member States' administrative capacity and promote cross-collaboration amongst national public administrations. The objective is to improve the overall quality of mental health services.

The project will provide capacity-building to address the fragmentation of health, social and education services, that often leads to uncoordinated interventions. It will also enhance healthcare professionals' knowledge, awareness and capacity to address mental healthcare needs in a timely and effective manner. Healthcare professionals and educators, children and young people, will be consulted throughout the project.

According to the latest "Health at a Glance: Europe" report, the pandemic has had a deep impact on young people's lives in Europe: both in 2021 and 2022, 50% of young Europeans reported unmet needs for mental health care. Today's project launch aims to address these concerns and is one of the Flagships announced with the Communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health, published in June 2023.

More info on the project and the Technical Support Instrument.

(For more information: Stefan De Keersmaecker – Tel.: +32 2 298 46 80; Laetitia Close – Tel.: +32 2 296 70 73)