COPE Project

Happy new year fron the COPE partners!!

🎨 "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."
Art has a special way of guiding us through our inner emotions, helping us discover hidden parts of ourselves while allowing us to escape the noise of everyday life. 🧠✨

From a mental health perspective, creative expression can be a powerful tool for healing and self-discovery. Whether through painting, music, or writing, art helps us process our emotions, reduce anxiety, and create moments of calm. 🌿💡

How has art helped you on your mental health journey? 💭

📱 A Growing Concern
A recent report highlights that more European adolescents are using social media in problematic ways. Between 2018 and 2022, the percentage of teens struggling with social media addiction rose from 7% to 11%. 😟

These teens often feel preoccupied with being online, struggle to control their usage, and feel distressed when disconnected. 🌐 The highest rates were seen in Romania (22%), Malta (18%), and Bulgaria (17%).

It's time to start talking about digital wellbeing and how we can better support the eternally online generation. 💬



Image created by Microsoft Co-pilot

🎨 "Art is the act of triggering deep memories."
Art has a unique power to touch our emotions and bring memories to life. Whether it's a painting, song, or poem, it allows us to reconnect with moments we thought were long forgotten. 🌟

What memory does art trigger for you? 💭🎶

🧠 Key Facts on Adolescent Mental Health (from WHO) 🌍

Globally, 1 in 7 adolescents (10-19 years old) experiences a mental disorder. This accounts for 15% of the global burden of disease in this age group.
Depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders are leading causes of illness and disability in teens.
Su***de is the 3rd leading cause of death for those aged 15-29.
Failing to address these mental health conditions in adolescence impacts both physical and mental health well into adulthood, limiting opportunities for a fulfilling life. 💔

It’s time to take action and raise awareness. Together, we can make a difference! 💬


Imagen creada por ITC con ayuda de Co-pilot

🎨💪 Over the 2 years of this project, we created innovative materials to support youth mental health through the power of the arts! 🎭🧠 And none of this would have been possible without the strong collaboration and communication between our amazing partners! 🤝✨

📍 Across the project, we held 3 face-to-face meetings in Prague, Athens, and Vienna 🌍, plus one online meeting every month 💻. With daily email exchanges 📧, our team stayed connected, informed, and ready to tackle any challenges that came our way! 💬✅

🌍💚 World Mental Health Day 💚🌍

As this month we celebrate World Mental Health Day, we recognize the importance of mental well-being for everyone, especially our youth! 🎨💭

Did you know that engaging in the arts—whether it’s painting, music, dance, or theater—can significantly boost mental health? 💡 Here's how:

🎶 Stress Relief: Creating art provides a positive outlet to express emotions and reduce stress.

🎨 Emotional Expression: Art allows young people to process difficult feelings and experiences in a safe, creative space.

💃 Community Connection: Participating in group arts activities fosters a sense of belonging and builds supportive relationships.

🎭 Building Confidence: Through artistic expression, youth can develop self-esteem and confidence, key components to strong mental health.

Let’s continue supporting mental well-being through the arts, creating spaces where young minds can thrive emotionally and creatively! 💚✨

The COPE Project's "slow down" exhibition, organized by VAEV R&D, took place in Vienna on August 22-23, 2024. Curated by Laura Oyuela, it showcased powerful works that encouraged reflection on mental health and well-being. 🌿✨ The event marked a meaningful conclusion to the project, highlighting the power of art in fostering peer support and healing.

To read more about the event go to: cope-project.com/news-events

Follow our latest updates on the COPE website! 🌟

Check out the latest news to see the various events hosted by our partner organizations, all aimed at spreading the word about the project and its impact.

Stay connected: cope-project.com/news-events/

🎉 COPE Multiplier Event Success in Czech Republic! 🇨🇿

We are thrilled to share the success of our recent multiplier event held on August 28th and 31st, 2024, in Prague, Czech Republic, as part of the COPE project! This series of workshops showcased the innovative approaches COPE is bringing to mental health and youth support and was organized to introduce to the participants Cope project, its aims, mission and the online platform itself and also present people how to deal with stress related to migration.

On August 28th, the event kicked off with the workshop "Breath and Movement AGAINST STRESS". This session provided practical techniques for managing stress through movement, breathing exercises, and deep relaxation. Participants left with valuable tools for incorporating stress management into their daily lives.

The excitement continued on August 31st with three impactful workshops. The first, "Mandala – Art Therapy for Relaxation", explored the therapeutic benefits of mandalas. Attendees created their own mandalas, discovering a new method for self-reflection and relaxation.

Simultaneously, another workshop, "Exploring Emotions Through Art Therapy with Crumpled Paper", offered a unique approach to expressing and managing emotions using crumpled paper. This creative method provided a new way to address emotional stress.

The day concluded with a repeat of "Breath and Movement AGAINST STRESS", where participants delved once more into movement and relaxation techniques, further solidifying their stress management skills.

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants highlighting the engaging and practical nature of the sessions.

We are proud of the successful ex*****on of these events and the enthusiastic participation. They have highlighted the effectiveness of the COPE project in providing creative and practical support for mental health.

To learn more about the COPE project and future opportunities, visit our website: https://cope-project-training.com 🌐

📅 This week, on the 26th, 28th, 29th and 30th of August, Symplexis hosted (4) four multiplier events to disseminate the results and experiences gained from the COPE Project❗

📌 The events brought together young people, youth workers, mental health professionals and artists to explore how theatre and other forms of art can create a safe and supportive space where youth can express themselves, connect with one another and find strength through creativity❗

🙏We would like to thank everyone who participated. While this inspiring project is coming to an end, our commitment to raising awareness and fostering youth mental health will continue❗

🖥 If you are interested in learning more about our project, visit our website https://cope-project.com/ and our platform https://cope-project.com/e-learning-platform/