Purpose of The EMERGE Youth Project

Stress is a natural human response that prepares the body to face potential threats. It is a state of worry or mental tension caused by challenging situations (World Health Organization (WHO), 2020). Stress can stem from physical, emotional, or imagined threats and unresolved past experiences.

While occasional stress is a normal part of life, chronic or long-term stress can lead to both physical and mental health issues and has become increasingly common in today's world. Excessive screen time, tech overload, constant virtual connectedness, news consumption, cost-of-living crises, and relationship or workload pressures increase stress levels. If left unmanaged, stress can significantly impact mental health and productivity, disrupting quality of life and daily routines.

Today, post-pandemic youth, as they transition into adulthood, face rising stress due to personal and external factors such as eco-anxiety, academic pressures, career uncertainties, financial instability, housing challenges, identity struggles, and socioeconomic circumstances (Sándor et al., 2024; International Labour Organization, 2020). Effective stress management is crucial for our mental health and overall well being. Ignoring or denying stress doesn't make it disappear; instead, our bodies store it.

Over time, unmanaged stress can lead to mental health issues. This is particularly important for young entrepreneurs at higher risk of burnout and reduced productivity without proper strategies (European Commission, 2022; WHO, 2016).

What We Are Aiming At

Empowering the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs through Stress Management Education [EMERGE] in Youth is an Erasmus+ project aimed at developing specialised stress management techniques for young people across Europe. The target youth groups are (i) those not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET) and (ii) the general youth population across Europe.

Funded by the Erasmus+ programme, the project’s main goals are to:

·       Provide tools as open educational resources.

·       Include vulnerable groups in the training process.

The EMERGE Youth project will enhance youths' stress management skills, which will be fundamental for the future of their professional careers, mental health, and overall well-being. Additionally, the project will develop resources to support educators and trainers in delivering stress management education to youths across Europe.

A Multicultural European Cooperation to Tackle the Issue

The EMERGE Youth project brings together a dedicated consortium from six European countries committed to advancing mental health support and education across Europe. Partners include:

(1)  Vanillea International (Project Lead), France| www.vanillea-international.com

Founded in 2022, Vanillea International is a consultancy dedicated to advancing European institutions by creating pathways for international development and study-abroad projects. The company conducts audits, develops strategies for educational and training institutes, and supports students with their educational and professional career paths.

(2)  AKLUB Centre of Education and Counselling, Czech Republic| www.aklub.org

Established in 1997, AKLUB is a not-for-profit educational organisation specialising in educational services and developing educational and integration programs. AKLUB serve three main target groups: 1) professionals and experts, 2) young people, and 3) disadvantaged individuals and their families. AKLUB offers various services, including educational programs, counselling, and support services.

(3)  Asserted Knowledge Eterrorythmos Etaireia (AKNOW), Greece| www.asserted.eu

Founded in 2014, technical consulting and staff-sourcing company AKNOW specialise in implementing information and communication technology (ICT). They offer technical consulting and training services, research and development of emerging technologies, and design knowledge awareness tools. AKNOW has extensive experience coordinating innovative e-learning methodologies, personalised training approaches, and sustainability training for SMEs.

(4)  TREBAG Ltd., Hungary| www.trebag.hu 

TREBAG Ltd. is a Hungarian private company and certified Living Lab established in 1989. With an extensive network of local and regional stakeholders, TREBAG plays a key role in non-formal education, focusing on bridging the gap between youth and the business sector. TREBAG's expertise includes developing vocational training materials and methodologies, including e-learning, delivering training programs, and creating gamified educational materials. TREBAG specialises in researching and developing training materials and promoting community building and education, benefiting local and regional communities and disadvantaged groups.

(5)  Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Galway, Ireland | www.atu.ie

Established in April 2022, ATU is a multi-campus institution in Ireland’s West and Northwest, dedicated to lifelong learning through teaching, research, and regional development. The Department of Sport, Exercise, and Nutrition is research-active, focusing on sports, health, and well-being. ATU advances agri-food, environmental sustainability, job creation, and mental and physical health initiatives across Europe. With expertise in research methods, pedagogical approaches, online resource development, and work-based training, ATU is excited to collaborate and contribute to the EMERGE Youth project.

(6)  Mind The Game Development (MTG) Ltd, Cyprus| mindthegame.ltd

MTG is a dynamic company specialising in designing, creating, and delivering game-based learning solutions and tools. Their focus is primarily on knowledge awareness games that blend amusement with learning. MTG uses Learning Experiences (LXPs), Minecraft, browser games, and web applications to ensure their solutions are engaging, easily accessible for all learners, and fun. This approach allows MTG to tailor and customise learning experience solutions to meet identified client needs and the knowledge base during the consultation process.

Project Developments

The key undertakings of this project are divided into work packages; each focused on specific activities and targets to develop stress management-related resources. There are three work packages (WPs), each with distinct goals:

WP 1  Project Management

WP 2  Stress Management EduPack

WP 3  EMERGE Web App and Educators Guide

These work packages will collectively contribute to the project's aim of providing youths with comprehensive stress management support and education.

WP 2: Stress Management EduPack aims to provide comprehensive tools and strategies for managing stress through educator resources, workshops, and activities. The following key activities are currently underway and planned to achieve this:

1. Survey: Assessing how stress affects young people (ages 18-30) across Europe.
2. Workshops: Hosting workshops to deepen understanding and support the development of free stress management tools to support youth in reducing stress.
3. Case Studies: Conducting case studies to support tool development further and generate new, effective strategies for managing stress.

Collaboration, knowledge transfer, brainstorming, and teamwork are at the core of this project, ensuring the EMERGE Youth consortium maximises its collective strengths to achieve project goals and the overarching aim for youths across Europe.

Current Developments

The EMERGE Youth team currently assesses how stress affects young people (ages 18-30) across Europe as part of WP 2: Stress Management EduPack. This result will provide comprehensive tools and strategies for managing stress through resources, workshops, and activities.

We invite you to participate in the "From Stress to Success" youth survey (below). We aim to understand how stress affects young people, your stress management needs, and any coping strategies you use. Your input will shape educational resources and a free web app with stress management tips, training, and activities to enhance well-being, employability, and entrepreneurship opportunities.

The survey is anonymous, but you can leave your email for project updates. It takes about 10 minutes and is open until September 30th, 2024.

Please click the links below to access the survey in your language:

ENGLISH | HUNGARIAN | GREEK | CZECH | FRENCH

Feel free to share this survey with other young people (ages 18-30) who might be interested in contributing.

For any questions or additional information, please contact:

Contact Information:

-       Vanillea International, France: Solenn Daudu (solenn.daudu@vanillea-international.com)

-       Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Galway: Emma Finnegan (emma.finnegan@atu.ie)

Thank you in advance for your participation

Reference List:

World Health Organization. (2020). Stress: The health epidemic of the 21st century. Geneva: World Health Organization. Retrieved from [https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/stress]

Sándor, Z., Müller, K., & Novak, L. (2024). Youth stress in post-pandemic Europe: Factors of eco-anxiety, academic pressure, and socioeconomic challenges. European Journal of Mental Health, 12(1), 45-67.

International Labour Organization. (2020). Youth and COVID-19: Impacts on jobs, education, rights and mental well-being. Geneva: International Labour Organization. Retrieved from [https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/youth-employment/publications/WCMS_753026/lang--en/index.htm]

European Commission. (2022). Young entrepreneurs: Overcoming burnout and promoting mental health. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. Retrieved from [https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=738&langId=en&pubId=8403]

World Health Organization. (2016). Mental health: Strengthening our response. Geneva: World Health Organization. Retrieved from [https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response]