ID Talks Magazine - All articles in one!

2023 ID Talks Year on Mental Health

13 September - 8 November 2023, Online
The autumn edition is under the motto “Discovering Mental Health Practices”

"Mental health represents an integral part of an individual’s capacity to think, emote, interact with others, earn a living and enjoy life. Consequently, mental health underpins the core human values of independent thought and action, happiness and friendship. Mental health and well-being are put at risk by a wide range of factors spanning individual, social and environmental levels, including poverty and deprivation; debt and unemployment; and violence and conflict.” WHO, European Framework for Action on Mental Health 2021–2025

Mental Health and Wellbeing of youth are at the core of European Youth Goals and the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027. It wants to achieve better mental well-being and end stigmatisation of mental health issues, thus promoting social inclusion of all young people. Nonetheless, a significant and increasing number of young people across Europe are expressing their concern about mental health issues such as high stress, anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses amongst their peers. Young people cite the immense societal pressures they face today, and express a need for better youth mental health provision. 

In 2023, SALTO Inclusion & Diversity Resources Centre has partnered with the Network of National Agencies’ Mental Health in Youth Work project to contribute to the discussion on the importance of youth mental health and wellbeing, as well as to highlight youth workers’ role in young people’s wellbeing.

The ‘Mental Health in Youth Work’ project works on the following three focus areas:

1. Raising awareness, normalising the concept of mental health, and promoting it as a positive resource,

2. Development of mental health literacy and competences of youth workers,

3. Enabling youth participation and peer-to-peer approach in promotion of mental health.

This year, the SALTO Inclusion & Diversity Resources Centre and the Mental Health in Youth Work project jointly announce a series of “ID Talks on Mental Health”, with the spring 2023 ID Talks addressing “Understanding Mental Health” and the autumn 2023 edition focussing on “Discovering Mental Health Practices”. 

ID Talks will offer a space for:

• discussion and reflections on various phenomena and practices,

• putting our own, social and organisational attitudes, beliefs and systems to the test,

• raising awareness and normalising the concept of mental health as a positive resource,

• discovering a way forward in developing mental health literacy and competences of youth workers and youth work organisations in general.

The autumn 2023 edition of the “ID Talks” is a series of 5 online workshops on 5 different practices and approaches on young people’s mental health and well-being as examples of quality youth work. The series features youth workers and other practitioners from all over Europe who offer an insight to their work, local and international projects. They share personal stories, inspire and give you food for thought. The speakers will explain participants how they addressed young people’s mental health and well-being and inspire the audience to make their programmes and organisations more inclusive, embrace human differences, look ahead and picture what the future of youth work and Inclusion & Diversity might look like.

Each workshop begins with the input from a guest speaker. After the input, participants have the opportunity to engage in small practical tasks, lively discussion, ask questions, and share about their own realities and experiences.

When? 

Every other Wednesday, at 13h CET, from 13 September until 8 November. 

• 13 September (13h CET) > ID Talks: Participation and Mental Health - How can you address young people’s mental health and well-being through participatory and democratic approaches? Having a role and being part of something bigger is good for your well-being. But how do you increase transparency about mental health and mental illness prevention at municipal level? Join us to discover a few simple yet effective solutions that have the potential to inspire policy change. Guest speaker: Martine Antonsen, Mental Health Youth, Norway 
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Participation and Mental Health article by Martine Antonsen + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE: ID Talks podcast on Spotify, Google, Apple & Spreaker
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Participation and Mental Health video
   
• 27 September (13h CET) > ID Talks: Movement and Mental Health - Can physical leisure-time activities help young people to take care of their body and mind? Movement and dance have clear benefits your mental health and well-being. So how can youth workers incorporate movement and dance in their daily work or in their international projects? Let’s walk the talk and do something physical that can be easily replicable in your work as well. Guest speakers: Jagoda Idzik & Izabela Bejm, Sempre a Frente Foundation, Poland
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Movement and Mental Health article by Jagoda Idzik & Izabela Bejm + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE:ID Talks podcast on Spotify, Google, Apple & Spreaker
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Movement and Mental Health video
   
• 11 October (13h CET) > ID Talks: Peers and Mental Health - Peer-to-peer work is nothing new: it is successfully used both in formal and non-formal education settings. But how can peer support improve young people's mental health and well-being? How does this peer-to-peer magic work in practice? How can you address bullying and do information and prevention work through this approach? And, last but not least, what is the role of you(th workers) in this process? Learn about the power of peer support and its positive impact on young people’s lives. Guest speaker: Inge Esselen, Peer Support Vlaanderen, Belgium - FL
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Peers and Mental Health article by Inge Esselen + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE:ID Talks podcast on Spotify, Google, Apple & Spreaker
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Peers and Mental Health video
   
• 25 October (13h CET) > ID Talks: Art-Story and Mental Health - How can creative processes give young people a way to talk about difficult issues? Visual arts and storytelling help to name, explain and accept feelings and understand why they surface. Through objects and metaphors it is easier to communicate about mental health concepts. So what potential does storytelling have for your youth groups? If you ever found it challenging to express your thoughts and emotions verbally, join us to discover the alternatives. Guest speaker: Laura Mellanen, visual art practitioner, Finland
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Art-Story and Mental Health article by Laura Mellanen + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE:ID Talks podcast on Spotify, Google, Apple & Spreaker
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Art-Story and Mental Health video
   
• 8 November (1 PM CET) > ID Talks: Solutions and Mental Health - When tackling the topic of mental health and well-being, we mostly focus on the shortcoming and barriers, offering external support. But it is even more important to focus on talents, inner resources and giving perspectives. So how do you build resilience and support young people’s well-being using a solution-focus approach? To change (y)our perspectives, let’s shift the focus and talk about young people’s strengths. Guest speaker: Lize Abrahams, Arktos, Belgium - FL
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Solutions and Mental Health article by Lize Abrahams + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE:ID Talks podcast on Spotify & Spreaker
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Solutions and Mental Health video

For whom?

• Youth workers, youth leaders, professionals, and volunteers involved in ID in the EU youth programmes, as well as all those interested in youth work and Inclusion & Diversity topics.

Main objectives:

• To provide food for thought and learn from inspirational ID stories; 
• To provide an opportunity learn about ID topics from the youth work sector and beyond;
• To get information, inspiration, methods to help the youth sector address ID;
• To inform about and contribute to quality (international) youth work;
• To identify and learn how to tackle existing and future challenges within ID;

Register here:

Fill in and submit the registration form. 
Registered participants will receive a link to the Zoom meeting a week before each session takes place.

What did ID Talks participants say about it:

• Keep going with the clear co-ordinated frame, expected and structured outcomes, and good impact!
• Very interesting and needed those kind of talks, exchanges, networking, support, between and for all of us who believes and wants to promote inclusion & diversity! 
• It's a good way to learn and share ideas and  practices.  
• It was interesting to have many new information and thoughts from participants.
• Thank you for organising these type of lectures! They are truly necessary! 
• It's very useful to have these kind of ID talks,focused on specific topics

• Check out here the recordings & articles of the ID Talks 2023 (spring), 2022, 2021 & 2020 edition:​

• 15 February (13h CET) > ID Talks Mental Health Explained: You increasingly hear about mental health in the media. But what is mental health really about, and what not? How is mental health perceived and interpreted? How are young people today doing regarding mental health and wellbeing? What should we know, pay attention to, and be prepared for? Put your assumptions to the test and gain a common frame to look at mental health. Guest speaker: Maria Agorastou, Greece 
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Mental Health Explained article by Maria Agorastou + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE: ID Talks podcast on Spotify, Apple, Google & Spreaker
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Mental Health Explained video

• 01 March (13h CET) > ID Talks: Climate-Change Anxiety: If climate change and environment make young people take to the streets, these global challenges obviously have an influence on their mental health and wellbeing? What kind of approaches help you to address their climate-change worries? How can you promote climate resilience, both at an individual and at a societal level? Come and discover what role youth work can have to tackle climate-change anxiety. Guest speaker: Anna Pribil, Austria 
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Climate-Change Anxiety article by Anna Pribil + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE: ID Talks podcast on Spotify, Apple, Google & Spreaker
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Climate-Change Anxiety video
   

• 15 March (13h CET) > ID Talks Social-Media Addiction: You probably know (young) people who are constantly glued to their phone. Maybe that’s you? Let’s zoom in on social media addiction. How can you identify it in yourself and in others? Find out what are the main issues, causes and consequences. And how does it impact the mental health and wellbeing of the young people? Find out what practical tools and support youth work can offer. Guest speaker: Katja Mankinen, Sosped Fondation, Finland
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Social-Media Addiction article by Katja Mankinen + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE: ID Talks podcast on Spotify, Apple, Google & Spreaker
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Social-Media Addiction video
   

• 29 March (13h CET) > ID Talks Supporting Young People’s Wellbeing: You probably (hopefully) feel that youth work supports young people’s mental health and wellbeing. But what are young people’s needs, and how can you identify and support those needs better? What kind of (extra) support do young people with fewer opportunities need for their mental health? Get an insight in coping and resilience strategies and learn how to create a sense of belonging and safe spaces (among others) in international projects. Guest speaker: Ana Perović, Serbia
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Supporting Young People’s Wellbeing article by Ana Perovic + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE: ID Talks podcast on Spotify, Apple, Google & Spreaker
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Supporting Young People’s Wellbeing video
   

• 12 April (1 PM CET) > ID Talks Youth-Workers Wellbeing: In order to take care of someone else, you need to take care of yourself as well! But how do you take care of your self-care? What are the main wellbeing issues that youth workers are experiencing? How do you prevent and overcome (emotional) exhaustion and burnout? Get to know the competences you need to take care of your own mental health and wellbeing (as a youth worker) so that you can continue to attend to the needs of young people. Guest speaker: Natalja Gudakovska, Latvia
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Youth-Workers Wellbeing article by Natalja Gudakovska + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE: ID Talks podcast on Spotify, Apple, Google & Spreaker
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Youth-Workers Wellbeing video

•  September 2022 > ID Talks Everyday’ s Racism: For many young people, facing racism is a daily struggle, affecting their wellbeing and mental health. Explore with us how racism affects health, housing, education, employment, political representation and many other not so obvious aspects of daily life. What are the main challenges and why can youth work be the answer? Guest speaker: Mohammad Omar, Municipality of Sundsvall & Vision24, Sweden
  
  READ HERE:ID Talks Everyday's Racism article by Mohammad Omar + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE: ID Talks podcast on Spotify, Apple, Google & Spreaker
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Everyday's Racism video
   

• 21 September 2022 > ID Talks Combating Racism: Several EU policies and national instruments are in place to combat racism. But do you know about them? Come and discover how institutional and policy tools to combat racism can help your work at grass-root level. And is there space for personal stories in combating racism at policy level? Guest speaker: Cătălina Olteanu, Romanian National Council for Combating Discrimination, Romania
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Combating Racism article by Cătălina Olteanu+ graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE: ID Talks podcast on Spotify, Apple & Spreaker
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Combating Racism video
   

• 5 October 2022 > ID Talks Invisible Racism: Racism is often hidden behind closed doors. Hate speech, fake news, lack of critical thinking contribute to new forms of racism. How can youth work address this invisible racism? Learn about good practices from the field and join this important and urgent mission. Guest speaker: Balint Jósa, United for intercultural action
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Invisible Racism article by Balint Jósa + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE: ID Talks podcast on Spotify, Apple, Speaker & Google
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Invisible Racism video
   

• 19 October 2022 > ID Talks Intersectionality & Racism: What if you don’t only have a minority ethnicity, but also a disability, a different religion or sexual orientation… Multiple discrimination makes it more challenging to defend your rights. We zoom in on the intersectionality between disability and race, and where you can find support and inspiration for activism. Ready to challenge discrimination and racism and its negative personal and professional impact? The talk will have international sign interpretation! Guest speaker: Lydia Gratis, Saved by the sign & EU Youth Deaf Association, Ireland 
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Intersectionality & Racism article by Lydia Gratis + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE: ID Talks podcast on Spotify, Apple, Speaker & Google
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Intersectionality & Racism video
   

• 2 November 2022 > ID Talks Practising Anti-Racism: Find out how EU youth programmes provide opportunities and formats for anti-racism youth work. Come and learn from the existing experiences. We give you tips and tricks you can use in your youth work practice locally and internationally. Find out how you can make best use of youth work to promote and practise anti-racism. Guest speaker: Miriam Petra Ómarsdóttir Awad, Erasmus+: Youth in action National Agency, Iceland
   
  READ HERE: ID Talks Practising Anti-Racism article by Miriam Petra Ómarsdóttir Awad + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE: ID Talks podcast on Spotify, Apple, Speaker & Google
  WATCH HERE:ID Talks Practising Anti-Racism video
   

• 23 February 2022 > ID Talks Strategy: Following on from the European Commission’s ‘Inclusion and Diversity Strategy’, the new ‘I&D Road Map’ details the road we need to travel together to make inclusion & diversity easier and better in the Erasmus+ programme and the European Solidarity Corps. Which milestones can you reach? What tools help you get there? And how to develop an Inclusion and Diversity strategy for your organisation? Guest speaker: Susie Nicodemi, UK & Tony Geudens, SALTO ID
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Strategy article by Susi Nicodemi & Tony Geudens + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE: ID Talks podcast on Spotify & Apple
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Strategy video
• 09 March 2022 > ID Talks Outreach: Even projects that “tick the inclusion boxes” often fail to reach to most vulnerable young people. What keeps young people with fewer opportunities from participating in European projects? Who is already on board then? And who is left behind? Why and how can you reach out to organisations doing inclusive work locally and connect them to the EU level? What are the obstacles and what is the way forward? Guest speaker: Andreas Rosellen, Germany
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Outreach article by Andreas Rosellen + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE: ID Talks podcast on Spotify, Apple & Spreaker
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Outreach video
   
• 23 March 2022 > ID Talks Language: The main function of language is to make communication simpler. But is the language we use (in international youth work, in the related programme documents and application forms) reducing or increasing barriers for participation? Is it inviting or discouraging? How do we communicate about our work at local and international level to appeal and attract diverse groups of young people? Guest speakers: Petra Plicka & Heidi Mackowitz, Austria & Barbara Eglitis, European Solidarity Corps RC
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Language article by Petra Plicka, Heidi Mackowitz & Barbara Eglitis + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE:  ID Talks podcast on Spotify, Apple & Spreaker
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Language video
   
• 06 April 2022 > ID Talks Local: One size does not fit all. What new, open, easy and inclusive projects and initiatives could be more suitable for young people with fewer opportunities? Why is it important to propose EU-funded local project formats and how do they compare with international mobility projects for young people? Guest speakers: Ieva Kaupaiteė, Daugvydas Diksa & Karolina Lipnickienė, Lithuania
  
  READ HERE:ID Talks Local article by Ieva Kaupaiteė, Daugvydas Diksa & Karolina Lipnickienė + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE:  ID Talks podcast on Spotify, Apple & Spreaker
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Local video
   
• 20 April 2022 > ID Talks Visibility: Communicating about our work becomes increasingly important. How not to “fake” it for the sake of giving a better ID impression? What are the ethical dilemmas? Why and how to disseminate and exploit project results (DEOR), both to convey the relevant messages and to remain useful and appealing to the larger public? Guest speaker: Pavel Vassiljev, Estonia
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Visability article by Pavel Vassiljev + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  LISTEN HERE:  ID Talks podcast on Spotify, Apple & Spreaker
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Visability video

• ID Talks Race: The motto of our European Union is: ‘United in diversity’. Then why is the struggle for racial equality not over, and seems that it is just starting now in many places through important, big movements, like “Black Lives Matter”? What is racism and how can youth work address it? Guest speaker: Mohamed Barrie, City Pirates, Belgium
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Race Article: Race, a lie with material and mental cost by Mohamed Barrie + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Race Video
   

• ID Talks LGBTQIA+: Social acceptance, and sometimes even the lives of LGBTQIA+ people are still jeopardised in many countries in the 21st century. How to get a more sensible perspective and fluid take on gender and sexual orientation? How to make these taboo topics talkable and could they be addressed in (international) youth projects? Guest speaker: Dani Prisacariu, Gender Talk, Romania
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks LGBTQIA+ Article "ABC LGBTQIA+ & beyond" by Dani Prisacariu+ graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks LGBTQIA+ Video

• ID Talks Class: Almost no one speaks about class anymore, and it seems, it is something left to history or marxist literature. Why so? What does class mean to you? How classes influence and shape young people’s lives? How do we create an offer that is attractive, but also accessible to all young people? Guest speaker: Falko Blumenthal, Union Secretary, Industrial Union IG Metall, Germany
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Class Article by Falko Blumenthal + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Class Video

• ID Talks Gender: Gender as a multi-layer social construct, but in public discourse it is often diminished to the individuals’ physical traits. How do society's standards and expectations impact our self-image? Why are these standards gendered? How to address body awareness, body image and identity in youth work, especially in the age of digitalization and social media? Guest speaker: Tony Lashden, Belarus/Sweden
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Gender Article "How do society's standards and expectations impact our self-image? Why are these standards gendered?" by Tony Lashden + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez 
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Gender Video
   

• ID Talks Diversity: We strive for equality in our societies, but do we appreciate the diversity that comes with it? Why should we talk about diversity? Why to embrace it? How to harness our unique perspectives, pool our collective intelligence to tackle the greatest challenges of our age? Why and how diversity strengthens any team or organisation, what personal applications does it have? What that means for young people and youth work? Guest speaker: Rahel Aschwanden, Instituto Now, Brazil
  
  
  READ HERE: ID Talks Diversity Article "We strive for equality in our societies, but do we appreciate the diversity that comes with it?" by Rahel Aschwanden + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Diversity Video
   

ID Talks Magazine - All articles in one!

ID Talks Faith: People all believe different things. How can we be amazed by these diverse looks on life, rather than letting faith divide people? Come and discover how youth work can address religious diversity and provide space for constructive, open and positive interaction between people with different beliefs and traditions? Guest speaker: Anna-Maria Daou, Community Engagament Coordinator & Researcher - Interreligious Dialogue, Lebanon

READ HERE:ID Talks Faith Article: People all believe different things by Anna-Maria Daou + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
WATCH HERE: ID Talks Faith Video

ID Talks Abilities: Approximately 15% of people have some form of disability. How many do you know? Come and discover personal stories and changing systems! Are you ready to learn from people with a disability who, while fighting for their rights, succeed in making a positive impact on the lives of everyone? Guest speaker: Önder İşlek, Assistant Professor at Aksaray Üniversitesi, Turkey

• 
  READ HERE: ID Talks Article: “My journey along with my disabilities” by Önder İşlek + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Abilities Video
   
  
  ID Talks Migration: We all like to move around in this beautiful world. So what happens if we (or our parents) want to stay in another place? Learn how youth work can reach out and co-create programmes with and for young people of migrant background, and to build more open and diverse societies? Guest speaker: Dr. Lorenz Wiese, migration policy scholar, Germany
  

• READ HERE: ID Talks Article: "We all like to move around in this beautiful world" by Lorenz Wiese + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Migration Video 
  
  ID Talks Intergenerational: Is ‘youth’ work passé? Young people are not an island. So how do we bridge age gaps in communities and organisations for the benefit of all. Discover how you can create projects that bring people of different ages - both participants, volunteers and staff - together and make it work? Guest speakers: Gea Sijpkes, Director of Humanitas Deventer & Yvonne Okkema, student, The Netherlands
  

• READ HERE:  ID Talks Article: "Is ‘youth’ work passé?" by Gea Sijpkes & Yvonne Okkema + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  WATCH HERE: ID Intergenerational Video
  
  ID Talks Intersectional: We are all so different in different ways. Intersectionality embraces the magic that happens at the crossroads of differences. Sounds good? But how can your organization develop an intersectional perspective and incorporate intersectional approaches in your practice? Guest speaker: Georgiana Aldessa Lincan, Roma Feminist Activist, Organisation E-Romnja, Romania

• 
  READ HERE: ID Talks Article "Embracing diversity through intersectionality" by Georgiana Aldessa Lincan+ graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez
  WATCH HERE: ID Talks Intersectional Video
   

ID Talks Digital: How do you make online youth activities inclusive? Inclusion & Diversity on the focus of international projects in the age of Digitalization. Guest speaker: Michele Di Paola. 

 

> Article: "How do you make online youth activities inclusive?" by Michele Di Paola + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez

 

ID Talks Organisational: Ok, your projects are inclusive, but is your organisation too? How to build a culture of Inclusion & Diversity beyond mobility projects! Guest speaker: Rahel Aschwanden

> Article: "Making our organisations more inclusive" by Rahel Aschwanden + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez

ID Talks Entrepreneurial: How can an 'entrepreneurial spirit' boost your Inclusion & Diversity work? Inspiring practices of social entrepreneurship within the Inclusion & Diversity field. Guest speaker: Areg Tadevosyan

> Article: "Inspiring practices of social entrepreneurship within the Inclusion & Diversity field" by Areg Tadevosyan + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez

ID Talks Impact: Clever ways to measure the impact of your EU Youth project on inclusion & diversity. Measuring the impact of Inclusion & Diversity work within EU youth mobility projects and online activities. Guest speaker: Özgehan Şenyuva

> Article: "Clever ways to measure the impact of your EU Youth project on inclusion & diversity" by Özgehan Şenyuva + graphic recordings by Olalla Gonzalez

ID Talks Future: The future of Inclusion & Diversity: what kind of society do we want to build? Guest speaker: Erica Bol

> Article: "Futures Literacy" by Erica Bol + Graphic Recordings by Olalla Gonzalez