‘Dialogues on Emotional Health and Wellbeing: A Mosaic of Perspectives’, a newly released white paper launched by Merck Group on 3 December in the European Parliament, brings Europe’s youth to the forefront of a critical discussion on emotional health.

According to the report, 90% of young Europeans consider emotional health the most important issue in their lives. Yet, nearly half (49%) report unmet mental health needs, and 50% frequently experience emotional discomfort.

Compounding these challenges is the declining political participation of youth, who are less engaged in institutional politics than other age groups and less than young people cohorts decades ago.

“It is imperative to create a truly inclusive and prosperous future,” said Ana Polanco, Head of Europe GVAP Operations & GPA at Merck Group. “We must consult and include those who will be most directly impacted by the decisions that we are making today. I am referring to Europe’s youth, who form the majority of the continent’s productive force but paradoxically are the group least engaged in the political process.”

A generation under pressure

Today’s youth face persistent socio-economic instability, shaped by two major economic crises, ongoing global conflicts, the climate emergency, unemployment, and soaring living costs. These pressures significantly impact emotional well-being and the broader perception of their future.

“We are in strange times, which contribute to a climate of uncertainty across the EU,” noted German MEP Daniel Caspary. “That’s why the issue of mental health is very much affected at the moment, and I feel it is talking to the citizens in my own region.”

These interconnected challenges underscore the urgent need to prioritise emotional well-being.

As the European Commission embarks on its ambitious 100-day program, Caspary emphasised the danger of sidelining these ‘soft issues’. “You can’t have a competitive Europe without a resilient society and a resilient workforce,” he said, highlighting how emotional wellbeing underpins productivity and Europe’s global standing.

Turning insights into action

Merck’s FutURe project aims to address these challenges by amplifying youth voices and integrating their perspectives into policymaking. “President von der Leyen has tasked commissioners to hold annual youth policy dialogues to ensure that young people are not just participants in conversations but active contributors to shaping the European agenda,” Polanco explained.

“This is precisely the mission we have embraced through the FutURe Project – to address the concerns and expectations of young people, amplify their voices, and meaningfully engage them in decision-making processes.”

The white paper connects the main findings of the first European roundtable held in Strasbourg last July with the proposals announced by Ursula Von der Leyen in her Political Guidelines for 2024-2029.

Aiming to serve as a toolbox to help decision-makers address these challenges with proposals from young people themselves, these ideas are articulated in four key areas of the political guidelines: social fairness in the modern economy, tackling the skills and labour gaps, reuniting our societies, supporting our young people and putting citizens at the heart of our democracy.

Addressing root causes

One of the most pressing issues raised by young Europeans is the transition from education to employment.

María Rodríguez, former president of the European Youth Forum, highlighted the challenges young people face when entering the job market, notably unpaid internships.

“A major frustration is the transition from education to employment, where unpaid internships remain a widespread barrier. That should be considered as something that cannot happen by any chance,” Rodríguez told Euractiv, calling for legislation to ban unpaid internships and guarantee quality employment with wages sufficient to cover living costs, including skyrocketing housing expenses.

“Many young people are working for free,” Rodríguez explained. “This is something that should be in the program of the Commission and the European Parliament to finally end unpaid internships.”

Housing instability further exacerbates these challenges.

Florian Boschek, Chairman and Founder of the advocacy organisation HPV Vaccination Now!, testified to the impact of high housing costs on young people’s mental health, recounting his own experiences in Stockholm.

“It is really a burden and also obviously affects your mental health,” Boschek said. “You cannot go to school sometimes because you need to work, you need to participate in the workforce to really afford your studies, which is ridiculous.”

Addressing mental health and well-being

The emotional well-being of young people is not an isolated issue but is deeply interconnected with broader social, economic, and environmental factors.

Danielle Brady, Senior Policy Analyst at the European Policy Centre, emphasised that emotional health and well-being are tied to policies on housing, employment, and climate.

“When we’re talking about emotional health and well-being, we’re not talking about it in a vacuum,” she said. “It’s very much interdependent and linked to these other policy areas, such as housing and the labour market.”

Brady called for a more integrated approach to policymaking that considers the economic, social, and environmental impacts of policies. “When you are making policies related to housing, they have knock-on effects for health policies or health outcomes,” she explained.

The call for breaking down institutional silos is clear. “We need to address these interconnected challenges simultaneously,” Brady remarked, “as they not only improve individual well-being but also address broader societal issues such as rising discontent and the far-right sentiment across Europe.”

Youth representation: a missing piece in European Policy

Ultimately, the involvement of young people in decision-making is essential to creating policies that reflect their needs and aspirations.

As Maria Rodríguez pointed out, youth representation in politics remains a critical gap. “Young people want to be part of decision-making. We want to see that institutions are delivering for us, taking into account our issues, our demands, and our interests,” she told Euractiv. This call for greater representation is echoed across Europe, as young people seek to be heard in decisions that will determine their future.

The FutURe Project is one of the first initiatives to create meaningful spaces for youth voices, aiming to integrate these perspectives into the policymaking process and ensure that youth concerns are addressed.

[Edited By Brian Maguire | Euractiv’s Advocacy Lab ]