Empowering youth mental health: the Icehearts Europe implementation guide

Purpose: Recent data indicates that, in Europe, 13% children and adolescents aged 19 and younger experienced poor mental health. Such experience during these years is commonly associated with factors such as violence, bullying, discrimination, conflict, displacement, and socioeconomic disadvantage. Poor mental health roots are extensive, impacting both individuals and societies. Despite this, investments in services remain low. Furthermore, several barriers may impede access to social support—e.g. limited availability, inadequately trained professionals, lengthy waiting times, high costs, stigma, and low mental health literacy—all of which may deter individuals from seeking help. On this perspective, Icehearts Europe project endeavours to address these issues by proposing a long-term program aimed at promoting and supporting health and well-being of disadvantaged children and adolescents at the EU level. Methods: Inspired by the Finnish best practice Icehearts, the Icehearts Europe project (funding: EU4Health 2022 Programme) is a 12-year preventive mentoring program based on team sports, recreational, and school support activities, underpinned by a child-centred community approach. To facilitate the implementation, a practical guide has been developed. It provides grassroots sports and social promotion organizations with operational insights for embedding the Icehearts Europe model within their contexts. Guide’s development stems from a multisectoral cooperation between grassroots sports, health, universities, NGOs, and qualitative research activities such as bibliographic research, study visits, analyses of local contextual situations and needs. Five pilot countries (Italy, Denmark, Spain, Slovenia, Estonia) will test the model, with the aim of raising awareness of its efficacy and encouraging broader engagement in the EU. Results: The Icehearts Europe Implementation Guide has been made accessible online in six languages through the link https://www.ice hearts.eu/resources from February 2024. Conclusions: This guide marks a step forward in supporting disadvantaged children and adolescents across various stages of their growth while promoting their health and well-being. It includes a range of strategies tailored to accommodate diverse contexts, acknowledging the absence of a universal solution. This adaptability is for developing early interventions, meeting the specific needs of individuals and communities.