My UM
My UM
Search

YOUTHreach

Strengthening Youth Mental Health Support Across Europe


YOUTHreach is a five-year European research and implementation project aimed at improving early and accessible mental health support for young people aged 12–24. The project brings together 14 research institutions from 9 countries to evaluate and implement three youth-friendly interventions that are already promising in practice. The goal is to better understand how these approaches can be scaled up sustainably across different communities and healthcare systems.

 

Approach and Objectives

YOUTHreach focuses on three complementary interventions:

  1. Youth Walk-In Centers: low-threshold, free, community-based support services where young people can seek help without referral.
  2. A Digital Self-Help App: designed to help young people monitor and manage their mental wellbeing independently.
  3. A Hybrid Peer-Supported Platform: combining professional guidance with structured peer support to reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking.

Throughout the project, young people are not only participants but co-creators. They are actively involved in the design, evaluation, and refining of the interventions to ensure that each component genuinely reflects their needs, perspectives, and lived experiences. The outcomes of YOUTHreach will include an evidence-based framework for youth mental health support, an open and FAIR data infrastructure, and practical implementation guidance for policymakers, practitioners, and youth organisations across Europe.
 

Why This Matters

Mental health challenges among young people are increasing across Europe, while traditional care structures often fall short in accessibility, timeliness, and engagement. By building and testing interventions with and for young people, YOUTHreach aims to provide earlier, more relatable, and more effective pathways to support.
 

Role of Maastricht University / MHeNs

Within the Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute (MHeNs), researchers and practitioners contribute with their expertise in youth mental health, participatory research, implementation science, ethical and health economic research, and international collaboration. The project reflects MHeNs’ commitment to integrating research and practice to promote mental wellbeing throughout the lifespan.

Maastricht University (Prof. dr. Therese van Amelsvoort & dr. Sophie Leijdesdorff) coordinates the YOUTHreach consortium and partners with: London School of Economics, United Kingdom (Mr. David McDaid), Fatebenefratelli Brescia IRCCS, Italy (Dr. Giovanni de Girolamo), Mittetulundusuhing Peaasi, Estonia (Anna-Kaisa Oidermaa), University of Birmingham, United Kingdom (Prof. Mathew Broome), University of Barcelona, Spain (Prof. Karim Lekadir), Ab.Acus Srl, Italy (Maria Bulgheroni), University of Galway, Ireland (Prof. Gary Donohoe), Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, Germany (Prof. Dr. Ulrich Reinighaus), University of Melbourne, Australia (Prof. Pat McGorry /Prof. Mario Alvarez-Jimenez), Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Netherlands (Prof. dr. Arne Popma), Servicio Madrileno de Salud, Spain (Dr. Covadonga Martinez), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany (Prof.  dr. Andreas Bechdolf) and the European Student Organisation AEGEE, Belgium.