Support for the mental health of young people: ukrainian-lithuanian youth exchange

The article highlights the experience of implementing mental health support for young people during the project «Social and Psychological Support for Mental Health of Youth in Lithuanian and Ukrainian Communities» with the financial support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine as part of the exchange of youth between Ukraine and Lithuania in 2024. The aim of the project was to analyze and compare the practice of social and psychological support for the mental health of young people in the communities of Lithuania and Ukraine, to identify effective approaches and methods, and to develop recommendations for their implementation to improve the mental well-being of young people in both countries. The results of a youth mental health assessment questionnaire aimed at determining the overall level of mental well-being among respondents, studying the peculiarities of young people's perception of stressful situations, and analyzing the effectiveness of stress management strategies used by them are presented. The article analyzes the legal framework of Ukraine that provides conditions for supporting mental health, strengthening social cohesion and developing the potential of young people in Ukraine. The article analyzes the scientific literature and finds that the importance of psychological support is important during the educational process. The areas of psychologist's work during the war are expanding, but social projects and programs at the state level are no less important. The results of the project implementation (quantitative and qualitative indicators in digital terms) are described: 30 people directly involved in the project organized and conducted educational, socio-cultural, socio-psychological, rehabilitation activities and meetings with the local community (workshops, flash mobs, master classes, excursions, integration and educational games, a seminar, a meeting with the local community, etc.)