World Mental Health Day: advice and tips for your well-being

Today, on World Mental Health Day, and as part of the ongoing EU NEIGHBOURS east youth campaign – ‘Change the world before it changes you’ – we are launching a special mental health and well-being page for young people, highlighting challenges and tips to help you cope and improve your well-being.

For many, being young is all about opportunity and change. But for some it’s a time of anxiety, loneliness and anger, feelings exacerbated by the pressures of social media, lockdowns and isolation, war and fear of war, economic unpredictability, and climate anxiety. 

Our page includes simple tips to help you tackle stress, control panic, and think positive, as well as advice on how to help someone might be going through a hard time.

The World Health Organization warns on Mental Health Day that stigma and discrimination often act as a barrier to social inclusion and access to proper care: “We envision a world in which mental health is valued, promoted and protected; where everyone has an equal opportunity to enjoy mental health and to exercise their human rights; and where everyone can access the mental health care they need.” 

Mental health is also a key priority across the European Union, and last week the EU adopted its first ever Youth Action Plan for the EU’s external action, which pledges to support mental health for young people across the world, acknowledging the huge challenges they face in accessing health services and information, including on mental health, adding the situation had been made worse by the pandemic and conflicts, as well as “a loss of perspective linked to climate change, protracted wars, forced displacement, racism or disinformation”.

More than ever, we need to leave the stigma behind, and confront the issue before it is too late. The sooner we look after our well-being, the better we can help ourselves and others. 

The EU NEIGHBOURS east youth campaign promotes youth opportunities and events, as well as discussions around mental health issues, across our social media channels, through our network of Young European Ambassadors, and in partnership with the media and bloggers in Eastern Partnership countries.

Follow EU NEIGHBOURS east social media to take part in the campaign: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Find out more

Mental health and well-being page

World Mental Health Day