The research paper “The Impact of Online Life on Youth Mental Health: A Cross-Country Comparative Study in Europe” has just been published as part of the MYndTheater project and is now available in Bosnian. This important publication sheds light on how digital environments influence young people’s mental well-being across different European countries, offering valuable insights for educators, youth workers, and policymakers.
The paper is one of the key outputs of the MYndTheater project, an initiative designed to promote mental health among youth using the forum theater methodology. By merging art, education, and psychology, MYndTheater empowers young people to reflect on their online experiences, develop emotional resilience, and acquire practical tools to face digital-age challenges.
The project aims to strengthen four main skill areas among youth:
- Knowledge skills – understanding the digital world and its risks;
- Life skills – fostering empathy, communication, and collaboration;
- Psycho-emotional skills – improving self-awareness and mental well-being;
- Practical skills – using theater and creative expression as tools for problem-solving.
To achieve these goals, MYndTheater is carrying out a wide range of activities, including:
- Desk and qualitative research, and exchange of best practices, resulting in a comprehensive research paper and guidelines;
- An E-learning course and a transnational training meeting in Serbia, helping youth workers learn how to use forum theater to address digital mental health issues;
- A capacity-building meeting in Albania and the creation of a Virtual Forum Theater Lab, where facilitators can experiment, collaborate, and innovate in online spaces;
- Finally, the project brings forum theater from the virtual world to the real one through local workshops and live performances, culminating in the publication of the MYndTheater Handbook.
Through research, creativity, and collaboration, MYndTheater is not only exploring the psychological impact of online life but also giving young people a voice and a stage to express, understand, and transform their experiences into meaningful dialogue and change.
The full research paper “The Impact of Online Life on Youth Mental Health: A Cross-Country Comparative Study in Europe” is now available: