Fostering mental health among youth in Lithuania

In Lithuania, mental health issues and the high prevalence of substance use, particularly among children and youth, are a significant public health concern. Furthermore, there is considerable stigma around mental health disorders in Lithuania. While a number of initiatives have been put in place, there is a need to develop a holistic and integrated interministerial approach for children and adolescents to foster their mental health, with a focus on prevention. This project will complement national reforms and strategies in Lithuania, particularly the ongoing mental health reform.

The project will support Lithuania in developing an integrated approach for youth mental health promotion, and substance use prevention and early intervention. It will begin with an analysis to assess the current situation of mental health and substance use, as well as review the policies for mental health promotion and early intervention. The project will also include two study visits to EU Member States, as well as a review of good practices in the fields of children and youth mental health promotion and substance use prevention and early intervention, followed with a feasibility assessment of their adaptation to Lithuania. This will be followed by the provision of recommendations and an action plan on an integrated approach, along with the implementation of a capacity-building programme to increase the Lithuanian authorities’ ability to implement and evaluate policies for youth mental health. Finally, operational support to design and implement a new approach and a pilot design will also be included.

The technical support is expected to assist the Lithuanian authorities in implementing an integrated and prevention-focused approach to tackle existing mental health and substance use concerns affecting children and adolescents. This approach should, in the long term, improve mental health and well-being, lower suicide rates and prevent substance use among children and youth in Lithuania.