Priorities
The study session focused on one of the strategic priorities of the Council of Europe youth sector: young people’s access to rights and living together in peaceful and inclusive societies.
Specifically, it aimed increasing mental health literacy of refugee and migrant youth, people working with them and to advocate for the enjoyment of the right to mental health for these groups.
The objectives were:
- to explore the right to (mental) health and its legal framework, and to map challenges in its implementation;
- to support and empower young refugees and migrants, and professionals working with them in order to challenge dominant negative narratives surrounding mental health and refugees and migrants;
- to promote mental health awareness and the importance of prevention amongst refugee and migrant youth as a group;
- to enable refugees and migrants to seek support in the field of mental health from peers and/or professionals;
- - to share lessons learned and (un)successful experiences among the participants regarding their right to mental health in order to map/document initiatives across Europe addressing mental health for young refugees and migrants;
- to create space for networking and future cooperation among participants, as well as international organisations invited to the study session;
- to initiate a campaign on refugee and migrant mental health, creating positive narratives on the topic of mental health.
During the study session 33 young refugees, migrants and youth workers working in the field of migration and refugees, as well as mental health were learning about:
- (mental) health and its legal framework,
- challenges on access to mental health support,
- cultural sensitivity and inclusion in the context of refugees and mental health,
- lessons learned and good practices regarding their right to mental health.
The participants had a meaningful exchange with Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees – Ms Leyla Kayacik, where they could learn about the Council of Europe work in the field of migration and refugees (including Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum in Europe), as well as raise their concerns and questions relevant to the topic at hand. Check more information on the exchange on Twitter and Facebook of SRSG on Migration and Refugees.
Organisers:
VYRE - Voices of Young Refugees in Europe (VYRE) is an international network created by, with and for young refugees.
A strong network, in which members can share experiences and raise common concerns, acquire new skills and strengthen their capacities, can contribute to Europe with greater knowledge of the reasons for being a refugee and with greater capacity for building social cohesion with intercultural learning as a base. Since its creation in 2008, VYRE has been focusing on the social inclusion of young refugees and on ensuring that they are given a voice to participate actively in society. Since the beginning of 2013, VYRE is registered as a legal international network, with over 200 members all over Europe and beyond. VYRE focuses on capacity building and advocacy, as it represents the voices of young refugees in the Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe.
EYMH - Euro Youth Mental Health (EYMH) is the only pan-Europe youth organization that acts in order to raise the voices of young people to promote mental health and prevent the impact of mental health problems in young people. We do this by involving young people across Europe to share their experiences and co-produce
research, policy and services locally and internationally. We provide platforms for young people to tell their stories and share their opinions, we lead youth involvement in international projects and deliver training to youth-based organizations at a local and international level. We believe that involving those with lived experiences in the process and conversation is the key method to promoting mental health and preventing mental health problems from reaching severe consequences for young people and bringing about best-practice and knowledge across borders.
Planned outcomes of the study session are the following:
- a better understanding of the purpose and characteristics of culturally sensitive psychosocial support for migrants & refugees;
- an increased awareness of roles and responsibilities of cultural mediators/community workers in strengthening refugees' mental health and psychosocial support;
- a short campaign on refugee mental health awareness.
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