Participatory youth research and impact partnerships for mental health

It is well documented and alarming: young people's life satisfaction and assessment of their own (mental) health is currently in steady decline. Various reports and deep dives show overwhelming proof.

YEP - which stands for Youth Empowerment & Participation - is working to counter these developments in three ways: The association empowers young people to take part in social processes, aims to create the structural conditions for participation and thus contributes to greater democratic participation in society.

In 2024 YEP applied its proven method of participatory youth research to the area of mental health and developed a youth report. It provides a deeper insight into the current situation of mental health among young people - and a range of youth-led calls for action. What's special about this report? Young people were directly involved in every step of the process - true to YEP's motto "If it's about them, don't do it without them".

At alv, we have been convinced by YEP's participatory approach with regard to research and development, constructive implementation through impact partnerships and networking. After its going live in April 2025 a "walk the talk"-phase started with all involved organizations, that now actively work with the results of the report. find the report and more info here: https://yep-works.org/yep-jugendbericht-mental-health/