Sofia, Bulgaria
The event took place on the 16th of December 2022, at Conference room “Serdika”, hotel “Central”, under the name “Post-Conflict, Wars, Economy, Climate – Challenges and Implications for Mental Health in Bulgaria and Europe”. Project “L.I.K.E.” aims to include young people with mental health problems in the labor market.
The results of a sociological study conducted in four countries – Bulgaria, Ireland, Latvia, and Italy- were presented during the conference regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people with mental health problems. The main aspects of the research are the consequences of the pandemic on the physical and mental health of young people, what additional needs have occurred during the covid crisis, and in what direction the interventions for the prevention of mental problems among NEETs should be focused.
Some of the research questions included in the survey register the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of NEETs. Survey data shows that around three-quarters of Latvian youth rate their mental health as significantly or to some extent worsened by the covid crisis. In the other countries, the share of such responses is lower, around 65%. Respondents from Latvia and Italy more often reported a significant deterioration of their mental status – 27% and 31%, respectively. In Bulgaria and Ireland, 24% and 20% responded in that way, respectively.
In the survey we asked young people what kind of additional help and support they would like to receive. The results show that social psychological and medical services are most desired in Latvia (67%) and Italy (50%). In Bulgaria and Ireland, after receiving psychological and social support, internship and work programs are most often indicated as necessary (48%).
The need for support through training and qualifications is stated more often in Italy (52%) and in Latvia (45%). Young people from Bulgaria (39%) and Ireland (34%) put them further behind in their preferences.
In separate reports during the conference, the results of the multidimensional work model implemented in the Youth Houses, as well as the 4-level intervention concept for supportof depressed young peopleand prevent suicidal behavior, were also presented.
In the conference program was also included an analysis of world crises – war, climate, economy and how they affect mental health. As well as a report on the increasing use of new, modern psychoactive substances and their consequences, illustrated with clinical cases.
The reports were presented by: Elka Bozhkova, psychologist; PhD Yuri Katsarov, psychologist; PhD Vyara Gancheva, sociologist; Prof. Vladimir Chukov, political scientist; Dr. Tsvetelina Petkova, psychiatrist.
