About the project

Strong Heads was a socio-educational initiative developed in response to the growing mental health crisis among young people. In recent years – especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing social anxiety, and the war in Ukraine – more and more adolescents faced emotional distress, depressive symptoms, and a lack of psychological safety. The data was alarming: in Poland alone, 127 suicides among minors were recorded in 2023, with over 2000 suicide attempts. Confronted with such statistics, silence was not an option.

The project was implemented through international cooperation between two organizations: the Polish Foundation Institute of Knowledge and Competence and the Turkish partner TUNA Gençlik Derneği. Together, we created a space for sharing experiences, exchanging good practices, and strengthening the capacities of youth workers. Our joint efforts focused on providing an empathetic and effective response to the mental health needs of young people, regardless of their background, identity, or circumstances.

The main goal of the project was to prevent youth mental health crises by developing sustainable, practical tools to support young people experiencing emotional distress. We aimed not only to react to critical situations but also to work preventively – through education, resilience-building, and breaking the social stigma surrounding depression and suicide. The project promoted mental health as a shared social responsibility – not only of professionals, but also of teachers, peers, parents, and youth leaders.

The project involved a comprehensive set of actions:

  • an international training mobility for youth workers from Poland and Turkey, held in Antalya, focusing on psychological first aid, crisis intervention, youth communication, and building support networks;
  • local workshops with young people in both countries, aimed at increasing their understanding of mental health, emotional self-regulation, and peer support skills;
  • the development and dissemination of a practical publication titled "It's okay not to feel okay – Preventive strategies for presuicidal syndrome", providing concrete tools, case examples, and guidance for adults working with adolescents;
  • a public awareness campaign promoting mental health, empathy, and community support through social media and community-based actions.

A crucial component of the project was the active involvement of youth themselves. They co-created the campaign content, shared their lived experiences, proposed solutions, and engaged in peer advocacy. One of the most powerful elements of their contribution was the poster series "127.", referencing the number of youth suicides in Poland in 2023. These visuals became a signature of the campaign and sparked public conversation and emotional engagement across different audiences.

The project reflected values of inclusivity, youth participation, and shared responsibility. It aligned with the Erasmus+ horizontal priorities by supporting equality, diversity, social transformation, and youth civic engagement. We placed a strong emphasis on open access: all educational resources, including the publication, were distributed for free in Polish and English, in digital format under an open license (CC BY-SA), and shared with schools, youth organizations, counseling centers, and the wider public.

Strong Heads – Transnational mobility of youth coaches

From 4 April 2024 to 9 April 2024, a six-day transnational mobility programme for youth workers took place in Antalya. The mobility programme involved 20 participants – 10 from Poland and 10 from Turkey – actively involved in the youth sector, including trainers, educators, psychologists and representatives of non-governmental organisations.

In accordance with the project's objectives, the participants were professionally active in youth work, had experience in educational and social activities, and their profiles corresponded to the project's theme.

The following people participated on behalf of the beneficiary: Formańska-Żadkowska Monika, Grzegorz Formański, Dorota Kotwicka, Joanna Kuliś, Agnieszka Łoboda, Marta Łoboda, Młynarczyk Beata, Niemczynowicz Anna, Nykaza-Połetek Agnieszka and Żadkowska Hanna – educators, special educators, psychologists, coaches (people involved in supporting young people in mental health crises, including those with migration experience). The group was diverse in terms of age, education, background and professional experience, which enriched the process of exchanging knowledge and good practices.

The following people participated on behalf of the transnational partner: Akpınar Yusuf, Bakay Menekşe, Gül İnal Büşra, Hatipoğlu İzel, Kanal Hasan, Köse Ömer, Köse Rümeysa, Seçil Kalkan, Tezcan Birkan and Tüzün Lal Schössow Rita. As in the case of the beneficiary, they were youth workers supporting young people experiencing mental health crises.

The mobility was of a training nature and served to improve the staff's competences in recognising and preventing mental health crises among young people. The programme included intensive workshops on psychological first aid, crisis intervention techniques, communication with young people in emotional crisis, mediation and building support networks. Particular emphasis was placed on the specific nature of working with refugee and multicultural youth. A study visit was also organised to a Turkish organisation working with people in refugee crisis, which enabled participants to learn about practical solutions and compare support systems in both countries. Reflection sessions and moderated debates were also held, during which participants shared their experiences and discussed possible applications of the knowledge gained in their work in their local communities.

Mobility plan:

04.04.2024 - Introduction and understanding the cultural context
  • 9:00 - 10:30 Session 1: Official opening and introduction
    Purpose: To introduce the objectives of the workshop, the organisers and the participants. Building a sense of community.
    Activity: Ice-breakers, introduction of project objectives, organisers and participants.
  • 10:45 - 12:15 Session 2: Cultural and socio-political context of Poland and Turkey
    Aim: To understand the impact of cultural context on perceptions of mental health.
    Activity: Presentations on history, culture, health systems and socio-political challenges, particularly in the context of refugees and youth.
  • 13:15 - 14:45 Session 3: Intercultural psychology in youth work
    Aim: To develop intercultural competence among youth workers.
    Activity: Workshops and case studies focused on intercultural communication and cultural sensitivity.
  • 15:00 - 16:30 Session 4: Debate: Youth mental health status in Poland and Turkey
    Aim: To understand the differences and similarities in youth mental health challenges in both countries.
    Activity: Panel discussion with experts on youth mental health, including from a refugee perspective.
  • 16:45 - 18:15 Session 5: Evaluation of the day and self-evaluation
    Aim: To reflect on the knowledge and skills gained.
    Activity: Group discussion and completion of individual self-evaluation sheets.
05.04.2024 - Prevention and early recognition of mental health crises
  • 9:00 - 10:30 Session 1: Mental health prevention
    Aim: To discuss prevention strategies in the context of cultural differences.
    Activity: Expert speakers on prevention programmes, effectiveness and cultural adaptation.
  • 10:45 - 12:15 Session 2: Early recognition of signs of crisis
    Aim: To develop skills for early recognition of signs of mental health crisis in young people.
    Activity: Workshop using simulation and case analysis.
  • 13:15 - 14:45 Session 3: The role of school and family in prevention and support
    Aim: To understand the role of education and family in the prevention of mental health problems.
    Activity: Group discussions and presentations on collaboration between schools, families and professionals.
  • 15:00 - 16:30 Session 4: Refugees and mental health crises
    Aim: To address specific mental health challenges among refugee youth.
    Activity: Speakers and workshops on the refugee experience, post-traumatic stress and social integration.
  • 16:45 - 18:15 Session 5: Evaluation of the day and self-evaluation
    Aim: To reflect and evaluate the skills and knowledge acquired.
    Activity: Completion of self-evaluation sheets and small group discussions.
06.04.2024 - Intervention and support in crisis
  • 9:00 - 10:30 Session 1: Psychological first aid
    Aim: To learn basic psychological first aid techniques.
    Activity: Practical workshops and exercises.
  • 10:45 - 12:15 Session 2: Crisis intervention techniques
    Objective: To acquire skills in the use of intervention techniques.
    Activity: Simulations and analysis of crisis cases.
  • 13:15 - 14:45 Session 3: Building support networks
    Objective: To develop skills to build effective support networks for young people.
    Activity: Workshop on cross-sectoral and inter-organisational collaboration.
  • 15:00 - 16:30 Session 4: Refugees - special needs and support
    Aim: To understand the unique needs of refugee youth and develop support strategies.
    Activity: Panel discussion with refugee experts, workshop on specific interventions.
  • 16:45 - 18:15 Session 5: Evaluation of the day and self-evaluation
    Purpose: To analyse the day's experiences, reflect on learning and personal development.
    Activity: Feedback sessions, sharing of experiences, completion of self-evaluation sheets.
07.04.2024 - Communication and relationship building
  • 9:00 - 10:30 Session 1: Effective communication with young people
    Aim: To develop key communication skills for working with young people.
    Activity: Interactive workshop focusing on techniques of assertiveness, active listening and empathy.
  • 10:45 - 12:15 Session 2: Conflict resolution and mediation
    Aim: To learn conflict resolution and mediation techniques in youth work and among peers.
    Activity: Role-play exercises, case analysis.
  • 13:15 - 14:45 Session 3: Building and maintaining trust with young people
    Aim: To understand the importance of trust in relationships with young people and methods to build trust.
    Activity: Workshop based on case studies, small group exercises.
  • 15:00 - 16:30 Session 4: Refugees: Communication without barriers
    Aim: Overcoming language and cultural barriers in working with refugee youth.
    Activity: Sessions with experts in the field of working with refugees, practical exercises using communication and translation tools.
  • 16:45 - 18:15 Session 5: Evaluation of the day and self-evaluation
    Aim: To summarise the learning and skills development from the day.
    Activity: Sharing impressions, group reflection, filling in self-evaluation sheets.
08.04.2024 - Integration, practice and planning for the future
  • 9:00 - 10:30 Session 1: Integration of knowledge and skills
    Purpose: To summarise and integrate the knowledge and skills acquired during the previous days of the workshop.
    Activity: Group integration exercises, discussions.
  • 10:45 - 12:15 Session 2: Post-workshop action planning
    Aim: To develop individual and group post-workshop action plans.
    Activity: Strategy workshop, action planning, goal setting.
  • 13:15 - 14:45 Session 3: Methods for evaluation and monitoring of activities
    Objective: To learn methods for evaluating the effectiveness of implemented activities and monitoring progress.
    Activity: Presentations on evaluation tools, workshops with case studies.
  • 15:00 - 16:30 Session 4: Refugees: Integration and community
    Aim: To understand the role of local communities in the integration of refugees and youth from different cultures.
    Activity: Group discussions, presentations of community activities, planning of integration projects.
  • 16:45 - 18:15 Session 5: Official closing of the workshop
    Purpose: Summary of the entire programme, presentation of certificates of participation, official farewell.
    Activity: Speeches by organisers, presentations by participants about their experiences and future plans, presentation of certificates, official farewell and invitation to further cooperation.
09.04.2024 - Study visit

Full-day study visit to the Ukrayna Ailesi Derneği Association - a discussion on residency among young people with refugee experience.

Preparation of the Publication "It's okay not to feel okay – preventive measures in the presuicidal syndrome"

As part of the project, a set of good practices was developed, i.e. practical solutions, examples and guidelines for recognising and responding to mental health crises among young people, with a particular focus on suicidal tendencies.

The process of developing the publication was preceded by an analysis of the results of workshops, mobility and a social campaign. The materials collected from participants, trainers' reflections and observations from local activities were analysed and transformed into specific chapters of the publication. The entire work was supervised by an editorial team consisting of representatives of both organisations with experience in mental health, non-formal education and communication with young people.

The publication is divided into six parts:

  • Part 1. The specificity of adolescence in the modern world
    • what is adolescence
    • young people as a social group – opportunities and threats
    • mental health needs of children and young people
    • developmental tasks
  • Part 2. Understanding suicide
    • the causes of suicidal behaviour
    • the scale of the phenomenon
    • stereotypes and myths about suicide
  • Part 3. Trauma and grief as an integral part of the process of death
    • understanding grief
    • trauma
    • post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Part 4. Support in mental crisis
  • Part 5. Crises in young people with refugee experience
  • Part 6. Resilience: how to strengthen the mental resilience of children and young people
    • worksheets
    • exercises

The result of the project was a publication in two languages: Polish and English. Both versions are available free of charge in PDF format and are licensed under CC BY-SA, which can be downloaded below.

The Scripts

Open-licensed publications that will help in non-formal youth education.

English

This script is in English and in a versatile PDF format.

Download

Polski

Ten skrypt jest w języku polskim i formacie PDF.

Pobierz

Strong Minds – Workshops for young people

Workshops for young people were held in Poland (Pomeranian Province) and Turkey (Antalya and surrounding areas) and were based on the content of the publication 'It's okay not to feel okay – preventive measures in a suicidal team'. The aim was to raise awareness among young people about mental health and to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to recognise mental health crises in themselves and their peers.

Workshop Implementation

In Poland, the workshops were conducted in five groups, involving a total of 114 participants aged 14-18. In Turkey, 78 young people (divided into 4 workshop groups) took part in the activities. The workshop programme was divided into thematic modules covering topics such as:

  • recognising mental health crises
  • depression and self-destructive behaviour
  • debunking myths about suicide
  • stress management techniques
  • ways of supporting peers
  • institutions offering help in crisis situations

An important element of the classes were practical exercises: case studies, simulated conversations, group work and analysis of everyday situations. The classes were conducted by trained youth workers and trainers with experience in working with young people in difficult situations. Non-formal education tools were used, including discussions, elements of drama and workshop work. Participants had the opportunity to express their emotions, share their experiences and ask questions about mental health.

The workshops ended with summaries, reflections from participants and the distribution of educational materials. Their implementation showed not only a great need for similar activities, but also the commitment and openness of young people to discuss topics that have often been neglected in formal education.

Target Group Description

The target group for the grassroots activities was young people aged 14-18, attending secondary schools or active in youth organisations in Poland and Turkey. They were:

  • students
  • participants in peer support programmes
  • members of student councils
  • volunteers
  • young people receiving psychological and pedagogical assistance

In Poland, 114 people took part in the activities, and in Turkey – 78. The target group was selected in cooperation with educational institutions and youth organisations with which the project partners collaborated during the preparation stage. Participants were selected on the basis of:

  • parental/guardian consent
  • teacher and psychologist opinions
  • their interest in mental health issues

The group was diverse in terms of social background, life situation, gender and emotional experiences. In Poland, the workshops included young people from smaller towns, people from communities with limited access to psychological support, as well as students experiencing adaptation difficulties after the COVID-19 pandemic. In Turkey, a large part of the group consisted of young refugees or people from migrant families, which made it possible to include an intercultural perspective in the activities.

No significant deviations from the planned group profile were noted. The target group proved to be extremely engaged. Young people actively participated in the exercises, shared their experiences and asked many questions. In some cases, the workshops were the first opportunity to talk openly about emotional problems and taboo topics such as depression and suicide. This activity not only served to educate the participants, but also created a safe space to strengthen peer relationships, break down barriers and build empathy.

Social Campaign "It’s okay not to feel okay"

The project included a social campaign called 'It’s okay not to feel okay', which aimed to raise public awareness about mental health among young people, destigmatise topics such as depression and suicide, and promote empathy and mindfulness among peers and adults. The campaign was hybrid in nature, conducted both in the digital space and in local communities, with the particular involvement of young people.

Campaign Elements

One of the central elements of the campaign was a series of posters prepared by young people participating in the project activities. The participants themselves designed the slogans, graphics and concepts for the message, referring to real problems affecting their peers. The most emotionally and socially powerful idea was a series of posters entitled '127.' This refers to the number of suicides among Polish teenagers in 2023. The series became a recognisable symbol of the campaign and was widely disseminated in schools, social media and promotional materials.

The campaign also included posts on the beneficiary's website, where educational posts, quotes, reports on activities and content created by young people were regularly published. The online campaign also reached adults – parents, teachers and specialists – helping them to understand the perspective of young people and encouraging open conversation about emotions.

In the local area, the campaign was present during:

  • school open days
  • teachers' councils
  • youth events
  • educational meetings in places such as the Experyment Science Centre in Gdynia

Posters were put up, leaflets were distributed and mini-workshops on specific topics were held. All activities were documented photographically and disseminated through the communication channels of both partners. No significant deviations from the plan were noted. On the contrary, the involvement of young people was much greater than originally anticipated, which resulted in additional materials and the extension of promotional activities beyond the planned locations.

Target Group

The main target group of the social campaign were young people aged 13-19, secondary school students and participants in youth activities in Poland and Turkey. The campaign was also aimed at adults who are in contact with young people – teachers, educators, school psychologists and parents – as indirect recipients of the message.

The aim was to convey a simple but emotionally and substantively powerful message about:

  • the need to talk about mental health
  • counteracting stigmatisation
  • promoting conscious peer support

The group co-creating the campaign consisted of young participants in local workshops – they created the slogans, graphics and ideas for activities. Their authentic voice and commitment gave the campaign a unique, grassroots character. Throughout the campaign, young people were not only the recipients but also the senders of the message, which significantly increased its impact and credibility.

No deviations from the planned target group profile were noted. What is more, the campaign's reach turned out to be wider than expected. Thanks to activity on social media, the campaign content also reached young adults and people outside formal education. The campaign's audience was not limited to the Pomeranian Province – some of the materials were shared in nationwide educational groups, which significantly increased their reach.

Mural "Untangle Your Thoughts – Strong Minds"

An additional, extremely important element of the project was the creation of a mural entitled "Untangle Your Thoughts – Strong Minds" at the Leonid Teliga Primary School No. 34 with Integrated Classes in Gdynia. The work on the mural was both artistic and educational-therapeutic in nature. School pupils, teachers and invited guests, including young people participating in the "Strong Heads" project workshops, were involved in its creation.

Gallery

A couple of photos showing our activities.