Reconnect-EU

🌐 Explore our RECONNECT Project Website!

Have you visited our RECONNECT Project Website yet? The KNOW section is full with valuable resources for stakeholders, educators and anyone interested in learning more about Hikikomori and social withdrawal.

📌 You will find:

✅ Training materials
✅ Scientific articles
✅ Insights from existing projects
✅ General articles
✅ Informative Videos

👥 Each Project Partner has gathered national resources in their local language to break down language barriers and make the collected content accessible to all.

We hope you enjoy learning more about Hikikomori and our Project!

https://www.reconnectproject.org/know/

Partners:
Co&So | Hikikomori Italia | DGASPC HR | Spectrum Research Centre | La Salle-Buen Consejo | ENTER Network

💚 Reconnection starts with understanding.

Supporting young people experiencing Hikikomori begins with understanding the challenges they face.

The "RECONNECT – Empowering Teachers and Students to Support Hikikomori Reintegration" project is equipping teachers and educators with knowledge, practical resources, and innovative learning tools to better recognise social withdrawal and support students on their journey back to education, confidence, and connection.

By working together across Europe, we are creating resources that promote inclusion, wellbeing, and stronger educational communities.

Every conversation, every insight, and every small step can help make a difference.

Reconnection doesn't happen overnight. It begins with small moments of awareness, growing confidence, and the support of people who understand.

Through the "RECONNECT – Empowering Teachers and Students to Support Hikikomori Reintegration" project, our partners are developing practical tools and innovative learning experiences to help educators better support young people experiencing social withdrawal.

By encouraging understanding, building confidence, and strengthening social connections, we hope to create pathways towards meaningful reintegration.

Together, we can help every young person feel seen, supported, and connected.

🌟 Your Feedback, Our Inspiration: LTT Training Evaluation Results🌟
We are delighted to share that the evaluation of our Learning, Teaching and Training (LTT) event in Milan showed overwhelmingly positive results!

Participants highly appreciated:
✅ The excellent organisation and realistic planning of the event.
✅ The collaborative atmosphere and active participation throughout the training.
✅ The quality and relevance of the Teacher Training Curriculum.
✅ The practical value of the modules for supporting young people experiencing social withdrawal (hikikomori) and facilitating their reintegration into education.

Many participants highlighted the interactive discussions, exchange of experiences, and practical examples as the strongest aspects of the training. Several also shared constructive suggestions, which will help us further improve the curriculum and make it even more useful for educators and professionals.

A sincere thank you to everyone who participated, contributed their expertise, and completed the evaluation. Your feedback is essential in helping us develop high-quality educational resources and strengthen our collective impact.

Together, we are building better support for young people and creating more inclusive educational environments.

🤝🇪🇺 Transnational Training event in Milan

From June 15–18, Hikikomori Italia hosted the official Transnational Training Event for the RECONNECT project in Milan. Specialists from the partner countries spent four productive days together, working to better understand the hikikomori phenomenon and develop concrete tools to support young people.

During the meeting, the transnational team collaborated on developing training programs tailored for both teachers and students. The professional workshops covered key project themes:

The early detection of social withdrawal

Opportunities for school-based prevention

Effective cooperation with affected families

Practical reintegration methods and positive European examples 📚

One of the most moving moments of the program was hearing the personal stories of two parents. Their firsthand experiences helped the specialists deeply understand the daily challenges faced by youth experiencing severe social isolation and their families. 💙

Alongside the professional workshops, the event offered an important platform to exchange experiences, share ideas, and strengthen partner relations. The participants jointly mapped out the tasks for the next phase of the project, which include finalizing and translating the training materials, and preparing for the upcoming pilot training sessions.

The RECONNECT project aims to support educators, young people, and families in recognizing and managing the hikikomori phenomenon, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and supportive school environment across Europe.

📍 LTTA in Milan, Italy

This week, partners of the RECONNECT project are coming together in Milan for a Learning, Teaching and Training Activity (LTTA) focused on understanding Hikikomori syndrome and exploring effective ways to support young people experiencing social withdrawal.

During the training, participants will deepen their knowledge of Hikikomori, exchange experiences and good practices, and explore practical approaches that teachers and educators can use to better support students' wellbeing, engagement, and reintegration.

The LTTA also provides an opportunity for partners to collaborate on the development of the RECONNECT project's innovative resources and learning tools.

Together, we are working towards a future where young people feel supported, connected, and empowered to re-engage with education and society.

Can a game help young people understand their mental health?

As part of the RECONNECT project – Empowering Teachers and Students to Support Hikikomori Reintegration, we are developing an interactive learning experience designed to support awareness, reflection, and reconnection.

Through immersive scenarios, learners explore patterns related to energy, emotions, and social connection in a safe and engaging way.

Because understanding is often the first step towards change.

How can we better support young people experiencing social withdrawal?

The RECONNECT project – Empowering Teachers and Students to Support Hikikomori Reintegration brings together European partners to address this growing challenge.

Through innovative tools, research, and digital learning approaches, RECONNECT aims to support young people in reconnecting with themselves, others, and their environment.

Stay with us as we share insights, progress, and outcomes from the project.

in Europe | Key Findings from the Reconnect-EU Report!

Our latest study involving 85+ experts across 5 EU countries reveals critical insights into social withdrawal:

👉 A Protective Shield: Withdrawal is often a silent adaptive response to overwhelming social and academic pressure.
👉 The "Invisible" Risk: Quiet, non-disruptive students are most at risk of remaining undetected until isolation is entrenched.
👉 Digital Bridges: While it can isolate, the digital world is a vital tool for the first steps of reconnection.
👉 Peer Power: Classmates are the most effective allies for a successful return to school. These findings are shaping our new training curricula for more inclusive schools!

View the full report here ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/EUHikikomoriReport

Hikikomori Italia | DGASPC HR | Spectrum Research Centre | ENTER Network | Co&So

A recent report highlights the growing phenomenon of —young people experiencing severe social withdrawal—in Italy, estimating around 200,000 cases, far exceeding previous official figures.

Hikikomori are adolescents or young adults who isolate themselves at home for months or even years, often due to emotional distress, feelings of inadequacy, and difficulties in social relationships. The phenomenon is increasingly widespread across Europe and tends to begin at an earlier age, reflecting broader challenges related to mental health, school pressure, and social expectations.

In response to this growing issue, the European project Reconnect-EU aims to support the social and educational reintegration of adolescents at risk of withdrawal. The project focuses on developing inclusive educational practices and strengthening collaboration between schools, educators, and mental health professionals.

Through training programs for teachers, school staff, and peer students, RECONNECT seeks to improve early identification, prevention, and intervention strategies for social withdrawal and psychosocial distress. By building shared knowledge and practical tools at a European level, the project contributes to addressing hikikomori as a complex and emerging challenge.

Hikikomori Italia | DGASPC HR | Spectrum Research Centre | ENTER Network | Co&So

Hikikomori, in Italia sono 200mila: ben oltre le stime ufficiali - Notizie - Ansa.it Il presidente dell'associazione: Conteggiati solo 50mila iscritti a scuola ma fenomeno si allarga (ANSA)