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On this page, you can find information on past and upcoming CHAT-YOUTH events. For more information on the past events go to Professional Development page or read the brief descriptions here. If you have any questions about the events, do not hesitate to contact us at chat-youth@youthresearch.fi.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Save the date! CHAT-YOUTH webinar on 24.4.2026 11 CET
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.
PAST EVENTS
We focus on building a network of chat-related stakeholders, be it counselors, youth themselves, researchers or board members of chat-organizations. With the help of the CHAT-YOUTH network, we have organized six Community of Practice meetings, in which we have aimed to enable European exchange of information about best practices and shortcomings in online chat counseling services for youth. TheCommunity of Practice meetings have been succesful and left us with much more to talk about.
Past Community of Practice meetings:
The first Community of Practice meeting on the 14th of March 2024 was about exchanging information and expertise. We gave a short update about the CHAT-YOUTH project and heard a presentation about a Finnish chat service.
The second Community of Practice meeting on the 18th of June 2024 was about artificial intelligence and how artificial intelligence can be used in chat services. Before we heard a presentation about AI, we gave a short update about the project. During the discussions participant shared their ideas and thoughts about using AI in the chat services.
The third Community of Practice meeting on the 1st of October 2024 was about suicidality as a phenomenon in the OCCS’s and how counselors should approach the topic.
The fourth Community of Practice meeting on the 11th of February 2025 focused around the training of the counsellors and volunteers. The meeting contained presentations from organizations with OCCS’s around Europe that exhibited their approaches towards the topic.
The fifth Community of Practice meeting on the 17th of June 2025 focused on finding consesnus of the pressing issues of the chat services today. The attendees discussed various themes in smaller groups and took notes on their stances on difficult topics.
The sixth Community of Practice meeting on the 16th of September 2025 focused on the reporting systems that the chat services use to collect information about their operations. We discussed the results of a survey that the CHAT-YOUTH has conducted over the course of summer and the experiences that different chat-services have with using statistics tools to construct reports.
Past webinars:
Webinar 1: 14th of January 2025: Artificial Intelligence
The sessions addressed ethical challenges, such as transparency, fairness, and the balance between technology and human connection, as we consider the implications of integrating AI into sensitive areas like mental health.
Watch the recordings of the webinar here (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.).
Webinar 2: 22nd of May 2025: Shaping the Future of Digital Wellbeing and Online Support
The sessions held also as a live meeting in Ghent adressed various topics related to the current trends in digital wellbeing.
Webinar 3: 4th of November 2025: Youth perspectives on mental health across Europe
Together, we explore what shapes young people’s mental health in 2025. This webinar brings together youth voices from across Europe to share perspectives on education, advocacy, and diverse communities. Centering their experiences, the event aims to inspire inclusive, youth-driven approaches to mental well-being.
Watch the recording of the webinar here (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.).
Symposiums:
Kick-off meeting for CHAT-YOUTH partners and experts in Madrid
The hybrid kick-off meeting was arranged on Thursday the 25th of January 2024 in Madrid, Spain.
Helsinki symposium Research and Practice
Helsinki CHAT-YOUTH meeting took place on Thursday 22nd of August 2024 at Tieteiden Talo in Helsinki, Finland.
Ghent symposium Shaping the Future of Digital Wellbeing and Online Support
Ghent symposium took place on Thursday the 22nd of May 2025 in De Krook in Ghent, Belgium.
Budapest symposium Final conference of CHAT-YOUTH project
Budapest symposium took place on Thursday 30th of October in ELTE University in Budapest, Hungary.
Other events:
CHAT-YOUTH arranged a thematic working group called Do chat services for youth build hope? at the XXII Annual Conference of Youth Studies on 8–9th November 2023 in Helsinki, Finland.
NYRIS 16th Nordic Youth Research Symposium (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.) June 12-14th, 2024, Tampere, Finland. CHAT-YOUT arranged the thematic working group number 11. CHAT-services as Crisis help and Assistance for youth during challenging Times.
Project team
Alexis Dewaele, Lien Goossens and Elke Denayer, Universiteit Gent, Belgium
Maria Cabello Salmerón and Irati Higuera Lozano, La Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
Katalin Felvinczi, Zsuza Kaló and Mónika Rényi, Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
Tuuli Pitkänen, Siiri Soininvaara and Sanni Heinonen, Finnish Youth Research Society, Finland
