EARLY is funded by the European Union under grant agreement no. 101095392 and the Horizon Europe framework. The project is led by Prof Dr Jutta Lindert from the Department of Social Work and Health at Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences and aims to understand the state of mental health from the perspective of young people, parents and various interest groups. Particular attention is paid to mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety and substance use disorders.
The EARLY project aims to provide robust data on youth mental health in the European region and to design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based interventions. The project's focus is to better understand the mental health of young people in Europe and to find new ways to help them manage their mental health more effectively.
With 19 partners from 14 countries (Albania, Belgium, Germany, Israel, Italy, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Romania), we address the critical issue of youth mental health, thereby reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases, particularly mental disorders, among adolescents. Through a mixed-methods study, we aim to develop a comprehensive exposure matrix, understand the perception of youth mental health, and provide representative, robust data on youth mental health. Surveys and interventions will be conducted in the partner countries. The results are intended to improve the care and promotion of young people's mental health in an evidence-based manner, both within European health systems and in young people's living environments.
The project is committed to a comprehensive and ethically sound approach across all consortium partners, both within and outside the European Union. This includes adhering to legal and ethical requirements, ensuring data management and security, establishing causal pathways for mental health conditions, and analyzing national and international data on mental health and associated factors. Additionally, the project seeks to assess country preparedness for implementing youth mental health interventions, and map existing services for youth.
If you would like to learn more about EARLY, please visit the project website.