Students across European universities frequently encounter severe stress, exam anxiety, and feelings of isolation, yet traditional university counseling systems often lack the capacity to respond quickly. Recognizing these structural gaps, the University of Social Sciences is leading an international consortium alongside expert organizations from Spain, Germany, Ireland, Romania, and Cyprus. Their collective mission is to establish a unified, sustainable mental health support standard that adapts smoothly across diverse cultural and institutional settings.
The initiative addresses student needs through a dual digital and interpersonal approach. The CARE component introduces a structured, eight-module online iCBT platform offering free, confidential tools to manage stress and build daily emotional resilience. Simultaneously, the CONNECT strand establishes robust peer-support networks by equipping students and staff with practical empathy and communication skills. This empowers university communities to spot early signs of emotional distress and safely direct individuals to professional care while normalizing mental health awareness across campuses.
Download the full article in Greek to read how the CARE + CONNECT project is transforming university mental health support.