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It’s rough out there for young folks in Europe, mental health-wise. You see it everywhere – school, online – and sometimes it feels like no one really knows how to help or even notice the difference between someone genuinely struggling and someone just looking for attention online.

Between Loneliness and the Screen

Young people in Europe are at the heart of a worsening mental health crisis. Experts are sounding the alarm: more and more young people are dealing with anxiety, depression, identity confusion, and a pervasive sense of emptiness. The issue isn’t a lack of action — it’s a lack of direction.

A recent report A Vision for Youth Mental Wellbeing in Europe makes it clear: we need a cross-sector, integrated approach that puts youth mental wellbeing at the core of public policy.

While EU institutions are developing preventive tools and promoting early intervention, the absence of a shared definition of success or measurable goals is hampering real progress. Without them, mental health policy remains fragmented — and young people remain lost.

The report argues that wellbeing cannot be an afterthought. It must become the starting point of all education, social, and digital policies.

When University Campuses Become Places of Fear

A tragic event at the University of Warsaw shocked the nation when a student attacked university staff with an axe. A 53-year-old receptionist was killed; a 39-year-old security guard remains in critical condition.

Even more disturbing? Some witnesses didn’t intervene — they started recording. The videos spread on social media like memes: shared, commented on, forwarded.

Why? What drives someone to livestream a tragedy rather than offer help?

According to psychotherapist Joanna Sokolińska, this isn’t always a sign of cruelty. “It’s a coping mechanism,” she explains. “Filming helps people distance themselves emotionally. It’s a defense.”

But instead of fostering reflection and empathy, social media often fuels chaos, turning trauma into viral spectacle.

Lost, Exhausted, Invisible

From the hammer attack in a Polish high school to the suicide of 16-year-old Maja from Mława, recent tragedies highlight a deeper identity and values crisis. Many young people live isolated in digital echo chambers, lacking real-life connections or trusted adults to talk to.

Lots of good things are happening locally to help young people, but they’re not getting the attention they need without some national plans to back them up and help them grow. Even groups that are really trying their best don’t have enough stuff to help as many kids as they need to.

Teachers, social workers, and local officials need training and support. And young people need anchors — in a world that increasingly feels unstable and unsafe.

A particular source of concern is the impact of digital platforms. While tools like the Digital Services Act or the Better Internet for Kids strategy offer some protection, more decisive steps are needed: age restrictions, algorithm transparency, and education on digital hygiene.

When Phones Become Surrogate Parents

The burden of rebuilding trust and emotional safety often falls on caregivers — parents, teachers, coaches. But many don’t feel equipped to talk to young people about emotions.

Initiatives like Connecting Generations or Nightline Europe aim to bridge this gap by offering communication tools and peer support. But it’s just as important that caregivers aren’t left alone — especially in their own workplaces.

“Parents often feel helpless and isolated. They need safe spaces to ask for help too,” says Nuala Flewett from Ambitious about Autism.

That’s why the report recommends mental wellbeing resources not just for youth — but for adults, including in work environments.

Schools as Labs of Resilience

Education must not be disconnected from emotion. Teaching young people how to handle stress and regulate emotions is not a luxury — it’s a survival skill.

Schools and universities should be safe spaces where mental wellbeing is foundational, not optional. Programs like Tackle Your Feelings, where athletes advocate for emotional health, show how role models can help break taboos.

Mental resilience should be developed just as intentionally as academic skills. It’s not just an investment in grades — it’s an investment in the future of our societies.

Young People Don’t Want to Be Passive — They Want to Be Partners

The report is clear: mental health policies should not be for young people, but with them.

Peers are often the first point of contact in a crisis. Young people are the ones who can challenge taboos and shift narratives. But for that to happen, they need to be truly included — not just on TikTok, but at decision-making tables.

What young people need today isn’t another awareness campaign. They need a community that sees them, hears them, and helps them find meaning — in a world that increasingly feels unbearable.

This crisis demands more than sympathy — it requires action. If we want to save lives, we need to listen, adapt, and build a Europe where young people don’t just survive, but truly thrive.

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