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CHAT-YOUTH article published in Child & Youth Services

How do young people discuss the topic of suicide in an anonymous chat counselling service?

A new research paper examines young people’s genuine experiences in terms of suicidal behavior discussed online and their motivations for seeking help anonymously.

The study consisted of text-based synchronous conversations between young service users and online adult counsellors during a period of six months. For in-depth analyses, 62 conversations were selected and analyzed focusing on the described suicidal behavior and the given reasons for despair and entering the OCCS.

Alix Helfer, Kati Kataja & Tuuli Pitkänen (2025). When Despair Takes Over: Suicide Conversations in an Online Counseling Chat Service for Youth. Child & Youth Services, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/0145935X.2024.2437758
Read the article here!

Webinar on 14th of January 2025

14th of January 2025 15:00-17:00 CET on Microsoft Teams

The Role of AI in Transforming Mental Healthcare – Webinar

This webinar offers an opportunity to learn how artificial intelligence is being applied to
support mental health and wellbeing. Through real-world examples, we will discuss how AI enhances access to care, personalizes mental health support, and aids professionals in
delivering more effective interventions.

The sessions will also address 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.

Whether you’re a professional in the field, a technology enthusiast, or someone curious about the potential of AI, this event provides insights into how these tools are shaping the future of mental health care.

Guest speakers in the webinar:

Mark Hoogendoorn: “AI: What is it and how can it be used to improve wellbeing?”

Heleen Riper: “AI applications in Mental Health Care (Research and Practice)”

Lode Lauwaert: “An ethical perspective on AI”

Saara Huhanantti: “Extending Mental Health Chat Support: Advancing with Technology and AI”

A Brief Report – Results from WP2

What are the strengths of online counselling chat services? What is needed to start one? How can the most common problems associated with online chat services be addressed?

Based on thorough desk reviews and interviews of the experts of the field, the CHAT-YOUTH consortium has produced a brief report on the most pressing issues of online chat counselling services for youth.

The report is available as a pdf-file here:

Networking and Community of Practice meetings

The future CoP meetings:

Tuesday February 11th, 2025 (11-12u30 CET) register HERE
Tuesday June 17th, 2025 (11-12u30 CET)
Tuesday September 16th, 2025 (11-12u30 CET).

Webinars:

Webinar 1: 14th of January (15u – 17u CET): Artificial Intelligence, register HERE
Webinar 2: May 2025 (parallel with symposium in Ghent, Belgium)
Stakeholder symposium: 22-23 May 2025
Webinar 3: November/December 2025

If you wish to learn more about the CoPs or the webinars, feel free to contact Elke Denayer (elke.denayer@ugent.be) with any questions or suggestions.

Funding and partners

ERASMUS+ KA220-YOU – Cooperation partnerships in youth.

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 and Siiri Soininvaara, Finnish Youth Research Society, Finland