Toolbox — For Training and Youth Work
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Exercise
Mental Salad
Tackling 'Mental Vulnerabilities' through a card game/exercise, developed with & by young people from 13 years on, for their peers. Multiple options to use in a variety of youth contexts (youth work, therapy, school & more).
Currently in EN, NL & PT
Aims of the tool
* Demystify the topic of 'mental health' and 'mental vulnerabilities' among young people between 13 - 25 years old.
* Explore and understand the topic of 'mental vulnerabilities' alone, in small groups or bigger groups.
Description of the tool
Mental Salad is a game created to talk about mental health in a light, safe and accessible way, especially among young people. It is based on the idea that mental well-being does not depend on a single factor, but on the balance between different dimensions of life, just as a salad needs several ingredients to be complete.
Throughout the game, players are invited to reflect on emotions, habits, relationships, challenges and coping strategies through questions and small
activities that promote listening, empathy and sharing, where there are no right or wrong answers.
The game can be adapted to different contexts and groups, always respecting each person's pace and limits. Sharing is an invitation, never an obligation. Each player decides what they want to say, when they want to say it, and how far they want to go.
Available downloads:
Disclaimer
SALTO cannot be held responsible for the inappropriate use of these training tools. Always adapt training tools to your aims, context, target group and to your own skills! These tools have been used in a variety of formats and situations. Please notify SALTO should you know about the origin of or copyright on this tool.
Tool overview
http://toolbox.salto-youth.net/5675
This tool is for
Designed for young people 13 - 25 years old. Nevertheless, this tool is now also in use with younger agegroups (small adaptation of certain terminology) and elder groups (e.g. in therapeutical settings, psychiatry and others).
and addresses
Personal Development, Peer education
Materials needed:
Downloadable:
230 Cards divided into categories
30 Base cards
70 Ingredients cards
50 Seasonings cards
20 Extra Sauces cards
20 Flies and Caterpillars cards
10 Recipes cards
20 Stirrers cards
10 Mystery cards
1 Instruction manual
1 Game board
Organise yourself:
1 Regular dice & 6 Game pawns
For free downloads in EN, NL or PT: please contact jef.vanhove@uilenspiegel.net or elinfluence@hotmail.com
Or simply: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tY8Xif4l34opaGwHis5dYu9mFQLg0bmB?usp=sharing
Duration:
Between 20 minutes to 3 hours, depending on the chosen level: individual, small or big groups.
Behind the tool
The tool was created by
Lara, Camila, Alice, Hannah, Maartje & Odin, with the support of UilenSpiegel & Produções Fixe
in the context of
Small Scale Partnership Erasmus+ (KA2)
The tool was published to the Toolbox by
Jo Claeys (on 18 May 2026)
and last modified
11 May 2026
Comments
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