PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT / RESULTS
Self-assessment tool, recommendations and publications
Find the results of the CHAT-YOUTH networking and co-operation project here.
Upcoming event in October 2026
Save the date! CHAT-YOUTH webinar on 2.10.2026 10-11:30 UTC+2
Welcome to join a networking webinar to hear about the research results and to connect with other professionals working in connection with Online Chat Counselling Services (OCCS) for youth.
The event will be take place on 2.10.2026 10:00 – 11:30 (CET) UTC +2 and be held via Teams.
Program:
- Short presentations and discussion
- Brief insight to new research
- Experiences of using the self-assessment tool for online chat counselling services
Link to registration for the event https://link.webropol.com/s/networkingWebinar (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
After the CHAT-YOUTH project itself has ended, the CHAT-YOUTH network continues the work by organizing a webinar to bring together professionals who have networked through the CHAT-YOUTH project.
Previous webinar in April 2026 gathered 40 participants. Thank you for all the participants and welcome to join also in October!
CO-OPERATION AND NETWORKING ERASMUS+ PROJECT
Youth undergo personal and external crises in the current time of changes. Young people seek support and mental help online. There are different kinds of Online Counselling Chat Services (OCCS) that aim to support the well-being of young people. CHAT-YOUTH project has produced information and facilitated stakeholders to information exchange and ethical reflection with the goal of improving the quality of starting and ongoing non-profit OCCS and to capacitate youth work in Europe.
We have collected and analysed data about characteristics and good practices of OCCS that support youth (<30) to overcome crisis with human help in Belgium, Finland, Hungary and Spain. In-depth analyses of topics and dialogues are being conducted. The research results are shared and disseminated through participatory activities with European stakeholders and have been further developed into practical tools. The aim of the project has been to facilitate networking that will strengthen the links between research, practice and policy.
CHAT-YOUTH produces knowledge about OCCS that will help to develop and evaluate ongoing and start new OCCS. A special focus is on vulnerable groups, including youth from Ukraine. Networking activities have brought European stakeholders together to share experiences and to discuss quality as well as ethical issues, and also continue after the end of the project.
Even though the funding for the project has ended in January of 2026, the results of the project remain on our web pages.
FUNDING AND PARTNERS
ERASMUS+ KA220-YOU – Cooperation partnerships in youth.
9/2023 – 1/2026
Alexis Dewaele, Lien Goossens and Elke Denayer (1/2024 -11/2025), Universiteit Gent, Belgium
Maria Cabello Salmerón, Irati Higuera Lozano (3/2024 -1/2026) and Ana Mateos Ramirez (6 – 7/2024) La Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
Katalin Felvinczi, Zsuza Kaló and Mónika Rényi (1/2024 – 1/2026), Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
Tuuli Pitkänen, Siiri Soininvaara (8/2024 – 1/2026), Essi Holopainen (9/2023 – 5/2024), Virvatuli Uusimäki (1 – 8/2024) and Sanni Heinonen (10 – 12/2025), Finnish Youth Research Society, Finland
Feel free to contact us at chat-youth@youthresearch.fi!
Tuuli Pitkänen
PhD, Adjunct professor
Research Manager
+358 41 517 8678
tuuli.pitkanen@youthresearch.fi