Supporting Young People’s Mental Health through Nature-Based and Blue Space Activities

If the training is approved, it will take place in Willemstad, Curaçao, between September and December 2026, for a total of 6 training days, plus travel days. Each participating organization is invited to send 3-4 participants, who must be 18 years of age or older.
The training will be facilitated by experienced trainers from Malta, who have already implemented similar youth work and nature-based mental health trainings in the past, bringing practical knowledge and proven methodologies to the program.

BACKGROUND AND THE DESCRIPTION:
Mental health challenges among young people, especially anxiety and stress are increasing globally and are among the most commonly reported concerns for adolescents and young adults. Research estimates that up to 20% of adolescents worldwide have a diagnosable mental health condition, with anxiety and depressive symptoms on the rise partly due to rapid urbanisation, screen time, and social pressures.
UNICEF survey of more than 1,500 young people across 17 Caribbean countries found that over half of respondents reported persistent worry (anxiety), lack of optimism about the future, and feelings of sadness or depression - indicating broad emotional health challenges in the region.

Islands such as Curacao and Malta, with pervasive coastal environments and strong cultural connections to the sea, offer a unique opportunity to integrate nature-based and blue-space activities in youth work. Scientific evidence shows that exposure to natural environments - including green and especially blue spaces like coastlines, lakes, and rivers - is associated with psychological benefits, including reduced stress, improved mood, and lowered risk of anxiety and depression among young people. Mathew P. White, Lewis R. Elliott, Mireia Gascon, Bethany Roberts, Lora E. Fleming, Blue space, health and well-being: A narrative overview and synthesis of potential benefits, Environmental Research, Volume 191, 2020,
In island settings, where blue spaces are both accessible and culturally significant, harnessing coastal and natural environments can help youth workers support mental wellbeing and work with neurodivergent youth more effectively. The methodologies developed in this training will help organizations working with neurodivergent young people and youth with mental heal challenges to create inclusive, adapted and engaging activities that cater to diverse needs, capacities and abilities.

AIM: To strengthen youth workers’ competences in supporting young people’s mental health and anxiety through non-formal, outdoor, and blue-space-based youth work methodologies, including approaches suitable for neurodivergent youth.

OBJECTIVES: The training will enable participants to:
● Increase understanding of youth mental health, anxiety and neurodivergent needs from a youth work perspective.
● Explore the impact of nature and blue spaces on emotional wellbeing and stress reduction
● Learn and practise safe, inclusive outdoor and blue-space activities for youth work settings
● Design adaptable activity plans that can be implemented in their local contexts

TARGET GROUP:
● Youth workers, youth leaders, facilitators, and educators
● Professionals working directly with young people aged 13–30
● Participants with varied experience in outdoor or wellbeing-based youth work

METHODOLOGY:
The seminar will be based on non-formal and experiential learning, combining:
● Interactive workshops and input sessions on mental health and anxiety
● Experiential outdoor sessions in natural and blue-space environments
● Reflection groups, peer learning, and guided debriefs
● Practical tool-sharing and co-creation of activity plans

Activities will priorities safety, inclusion, and adaptability, ensuring they can be transferred to different environments and levels of access to nature.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES & IMPACT
By the end of the training, participants will:
● Feel more confident addressing mental health, anxiety, and neurodivergent needs in youth work settings.
● Gain practical tools for using outdoor and blue-space activities to support wellbeing
● Improve their ability to create calm, supportive, and emotionally safe learning environments
● Strengthen networks, exchange practices, and develop new collaborative projects based on shared youth-centered ideas.
In the longer term, the training aims to improve preventive mental health support for young people and promote the use of nature-based approaches as a sustainable youth work practice.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS:

This training is designed for youth workers motivated to develop skills in nature-based and blue-space approachesto support youth mental health, including activities suitable for neurodivergent young people. While most partner organizations are already confirmed, we welcome new partners who can benefit from the training and actively contribute to the project, ensuring the process remains open and inclusive.
Additional partner organizations will be selected based on the following criteria:
1. Experience in Youth Work
● Organizations should have at least two years of active experience in youth work and currently engage in youth-related activities.
● Experience working with diverse youth, including those with neurodivergencies or mental health challenges, is highly valued.
2. Active Participation and Commitment
● Participants must be willing to engage in all stages of the project: pre-training preparation, activities during the training week and post-training follow-up.
● They should be motivated to learn, share, and apply knowledge with colleagues and young people they work with.
3. Language Skills
● Participants should have a proficient working level of English to fully benefit from the training and communicate with peers.
● Any language barriers should be communicated in advance to allow us to provide support.
4. Commitment to Dissemination
● After the training, participants are expected to share knowledge gained with local youth, fellow youth workers, and partner organizations, both online and offline.
● Participants should implement practical sessions with young people and report on outcomes.
5. Partnership Building
● Organizations must be open to collaboration and co-creation of new project ideas.
● Participants should involve their youth groups in pre-training brainstorming to identify needs and co-develop concepts.
● During the training, organizations will present ideas and work together to form new partnerships based on youth input and innovative methodologies.
6. Action Planning
● Towards the end of the training, participants will develop a concrete plan for applying learning in their home context.
● The plan should specify timelines, target groups, session content, and responsible facilitators.

QUESTIONS FOR INTERESTED ORGANIZATIONS:

To support the selection process, interested organizations should submit a Partner Information Form (PIF) in Englishand answer the following questions (see attached questionnaire) and send to bemcuracao@gmail.com
1. Organizational Needs
● How does this training address the specific needs of your organization, including work with neurodivergent youth?
2. Contribution to Training Quality
● What experience, skills, or competences will your participants bring to enhance the training?
3. Networks and Dissemination
● Are you a member of any networks or coalitions where you can share knowledge?
● How will your organization disseminate the results of the training locally or internationally? Please name target groups (e.g., youth workers, organizations, local authorities).
4. Commitment to Inclusive Partnerships
● Are you willing to actively engage in building new partnerships in a participatory and inclusive way?