9.Q. Round table: Towards understanding youth mental health – novel approaches to understanding and promoting youth mental health

Abstract Background Mental health conditions (MHCs) are becoming one of the most urgent public health issues in youth across Europe, especially among young women. These include depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicidal behaviour. Many of these conditions start already before the age of 24. However, many current approaches still focus too much on individual diagnoses and symptoms. We need a broader understanding that includes social, environmental, and systemic risk exposures. The EARLY project is addressing this gap by using a transdiagnostic and multi-level approach, with focus on prevention and early intervention through caring and proxy-caring strategies. Objectives The aim of this roundtable is to present new ways to understand and support youth mental health in Europe. Drawing on EARLY's mixed-methods, multi-country evidence base, we discuss how mental health is influenced by a wide range of factors beyond the individual level, and how multicomponent interventions-developed together with young people and communities-can improve outcomes. This includes support not only for the youth themselves, but also for their families, schools, and local environments. Structure After a short introduction by the chairs, six expert contributions will explore: 1. An overview of the transdiagnostic and exposure-based framework developed in EARLY. 2. Main findings from a recent umbrella review of mental health models. 3. An assessment of youth mental health and psychosocial care structures across Europe, including a first-hand local perspective from Helsinki, Finland. 4. Description of a multi-level and gender-sensitive intervention piloted in the EARLY project. 5. The role of the European Public Health Association (& public health networks) in dissemination of EARLY's project results for a sustainable impact. Local relevance The Roundtable entails an experience from Helsinki, Finland. A local report based on consultations with young people and service providers shows that mental health services are often fragmented. Many young adults with mental health problems fall between services. A recent participatory assessment involving young adults and professionals highlighted the need for integrated, relational approaches-such as the “pair method”-that build long-term trust with young adults “stuck at home” and bridges gaps in service chains. Audience engagement The second part of the session is a moderated discussion, inviting audience interaction and debate, supported by the Sli.do platform. Participants will be invited to share examples, raise questions, and reflect on how these approaches can be used in different local or national settings. Key messages • Youth mental health is a Public Mental Health challenge. • Interdisciplinary and intersectoral collaboration is needed to better respond to youth mental health needs. Speakers/Panellists Jutta Lindert Hochschule Emden-Leer, Emden, Germany Giuseppe La Torre Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy Erika Valtonen Ukraine Henrique Barros ASPHER, Porto, Portugal