At the end of October, I took part in an international Erasmus+ training course called Inside Out, which took place in the small and peaceful town of Birštonas, Lithuania. The project gathered youth workers, educators, social workers, and community leaders from across Europe to explore one of the most important topics in today’s world - mental health and emotional well-being.
The main goal of the course was to help youth workers gain a deeper understanding of mental health, recognise the early signs of emotional crises, and develop the skills to support young people in a sensitive and meaningful way. Over the week, we learned not only theoretical aspects but also very practical tools for communication, emotional first aid, and creating supportive environments for young people.
The sessions were diverse and engaging. One of my favourite ones was “Theatre and emotions”, where we used theatrical and participatory methods to immerse ourselves in real-life situations that young people might experience. These exercises encouraged us to look at problems from the inside - to feel what a young person might feel when struggling - and to reflect on how we, as youth workers, can respond with empathy rather than judgment.
Another memorable session was “Methods on working with youth on mental health”, which included a method of building the trust between two people. This method literally forced us to “blindly” trust another person on a walk in the woods, when only a blindfolded person could talk. After that, we realised that in youth work, you sometimes have to be that “guide”, because young people sometimes cannot see a way out of a situation.
One of the sessions also included an exercise about giving and receiving compliments. In the first round, we gave compliments to another person without any physical contact, and in the second round, we had to maintain physical contact. I learned how much presence, attention, and warmth can be communicated through touch and body language. It also made me reflect on how important it is for young people to experience positive, respectful forms of closeness and affirmation. Small gestures of kindness and genuine appreciation can make them feel seen, valued, and supported — something many of them rarely experience in their daily lives.
We also had meaningful group discussions about mental health awareness in different European countries. Hearing about the cultural differences - from how schools approach emotional education to how mental illness is discussed publicly - made me realise how much still depends on social openness and dialogue. Despite these differences, everyone shared the same goal: to make it normal and safe for young people to talk about how they feel.
Personally, one of the strongest takeaways for me was the understanding that support often starts with something small - noticing a person’s silence, checking in when someone seems off, or simply being there without trying to fix everything. The course helped me reflect not only on how I support others but also on how I take care of my own mental health and boundaries as a youth worker.
The overall atmosphere of the project was warm, inclusive, and deeply supportive. Even though we explored emotionally intense topics like anxiety, stress, and grief, the trainers led every session with care, empathy, and professionalism. I always felt safe to share my thoughts and emotions, which made the experience even more transformative.
By the end of Inside Out, I felt more confident, inspired, and emotionally aware - both as a person and as a youth worker. I left Lithuania with new skills, creative tools, and a strong motivation to bring more openness, trust, and empathy into my work with young people. This project reminded me that emotional health begins with connection, and that sometimes the most powerful act of support is simply listening.
The main goal of the course was to help youth workers gain a deeper understanding of mental health, recognise the early signs of emotional crises, and develop the skills to support young people in a sensitive and meaningful way. Over the week, we learned not only theoretical aspects but also very practical tools for communication, emotional first aid, and creating supportive environments for young people.
The sessions were diverse and engaging. One of my favourite ones was “Theatre and emotions”, where we used theatrical and participatory methods to immerse ourselves in real-life situations that young people might experience. These exercises encouraged us to look at problems from the inside - to feel what a young person might feel when struggling - and to reflect on how we, as youth workers, can respond with empathy rather than judgment.
Another memorable session was “Methods on working with youth on mental health”, which included a method of building the trust between two people. This method literally forced us to “blindly” trust another person on a walk in the woods, when only a blindfolded person could talk. After that, we realised that in youth work, you sometimes have to be that “guide”, because young people sometimes cannot see a way out of a situation.
One of the sessions also included an exercise about giving and receiving compliments. In the first round, we gave compliments to another person without any physical contact, and in the second round, we had to maintain physical contact. I learned how much presence, attention, and warmth can be communicated through touch and body language. It also made me reflect on how important it is for young people to experience positive, respectful forms of closeness and affirmation. Small gestures of kindness and genuine appreciation can make them feel seen, valued, and supported — something many of them rarely experience in their daily lives.
We also had meaningful group discussions about mental health awareness in different European countries. Hearing about the cultural differences - from how schools approach emotional education to how mental illness is discussed publicly - made me realise how much still depends on social openness and dialogue. Despite these differences, everyone shared the same goal: to make it normal and safe for young people to talk about how they feel.
Personally, one of the strongest takeaways for me was the understanding that support often starts with something small - noticing a person’s silence, checking in when someone seems off, or simply being there without trying to fix everything. The course helped me reflect not only on how I support others but also on how I take care of my own mental health and boundaries as a youth worker.
The overall atmosphere of the project was warm, inclusive, and deeply supportive. Even though we explored emotionally intense topics like anxiety, stress, and grief, the trainers led every session with care, empathy, and professionalism. I always felt safe to share my thoughts and emotions, which made the experience even more transformative.
By the end of Inside Out, I felt more confident, inspired, and emotionally aware - both as a person and as a youth worker. I left Lithuania with new skills, creative tools, and a strong motivation to bring more openness, trust, and empathy into my work with young people. This project reminded me that emotional health begins with connection, and that sometimes the most powerful act of support is simply listening.