{"id":238089,"date":"2025-12-11T10:38:52","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T09:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/danilodolci.org\/?p=238089"},"modified":"2025-12-11T10:39:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T09:39:08","slug":"empoweryouth-strategies-for-wellbeing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/danilodolci.org\/en\/news\/empoweryouth-strategies-for-wellbeing\/","title":{"rendered":"Strategies for wellbeing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In recent years, the psychological wellbeing of adolescents has been discussed more and more often. This is not a passing trend\u2014it is a real necessity. How can we tackle this phenomenon?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Italy, several studies show that many young people are experiencing feelings of anxiety, stress, emotional fatigue and, in some cases, deep loneliness<\/strong>. According to an analysis carried out in 2023 by Openpolis in collaboration with Con i Bambini, the general psychological wellbeing index of Italian adolescents is around 71 out of 100, with a significant gap between girls and boys: girls score around 67points, while boys reach 74. This difference also appears in what adolescents report about themselves: many girls describe a stronger emotional burden, a greater sense of inadequacy, or difficulty managing school and relationship expectations<\/strong>. School-related stress, in fact, is one of the factors that most affects their wellbeing: again according to Openpolis, about 60% of students in Italy state that they feel \"very or quite stressed\" because of school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But school is not the only factor that matters. Family relationships, the presence or absence of meaningful friendships, body image, the family's economic situation, and the constant comparison on social media all play a role<\/strong>. These elements can either support or weaken psychological wellbeing. Loneliness<\/strong>, in particular, is more widespread than it might seem<\/strong>. Even if adolescents are \u201calways connected\u201d, it does not mean they always feel truly connected to others. Many say they have plenty of digital contacts, but very few people they feel they can truly talk to<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faced with these challenges, what matters is not only what happens, but how one learns to deal with it. This is where the concept of coping <\/strong>comes in: the set of strategies we use to manage stress, difficult emotions, and everyday problems. It does not mean \u201cnot thinking about it\u201d, but rather recognizing what we are feeling and finding ways to prevent those emotions from overwhelming us<\/strong>. Some reactions are helpful\u2014for example, talking to someone you trust or trying to look at the situation from a different perspective. Others make things worse, such as shutting down emotionally or escaping into endless digital distraction. The good news is that coping can be learned<\/strong>: it is not an inborn talent, but a skill that develops over time, thanks to the presence of adults who are able to listen, support, and not judge<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Empower YOUth<\/a><\/strong> was created with this exact purpose: to support the psychological wellbeing of young people and to spread coping skills among those who work with them every day<\/strong>. In October, at Borgo Danilo Dolci in Trappeto, a training course was held with educators, youth workers, and teachers from Iceland, Bulgaria, and Italy. During the training, participants worked on how to recognize signs of stress and emotional distress, facilitate dialogue and active listening in the classroom, and propose activities that help adolescents name what they feel and develop positive strategies to face everyday challenges<\/strong>. The goal is not to eliminate difficult emotions, but to learn how to manage, understand, and transform them. Because psychological wellbeing is not just about health: it is about growing, learning, choosing, and imagining your own future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next steps of the project will involve several classes in the three participating countries in workshops where students will try out some of these strategies, guided by the professionals trained in Trappeto. A digital platform dedicated to the psychological wellbeing of young people will also be launched. Don\u2019t miss the next updates\u2014 follow us on Facebook<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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EmpowerYOUth: Enhancing Youth Mental Wellbeing<\/a><\/strong> is a project funded by the Erasmus+ programme KA220-YOU \u2013 Cooperation partnerships in youth.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Partners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n