Category: Allgemein

Does the EU need a windfall tax? We’re facing an escalating food crisis, the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time unprecedented inflation rates have had devastating effects on the vast majority of the population. However, a few people and corporations have heavily benefited from them, which has only driven inequality even further. A recent study by Oxfam International highlighted that every 30 hours there was a new billionaire in the world. At the same time every 33 hours a million people drop into risk of extreme poverty.

Back in March 2022, we asked the Council and the Commission to come up with coordinated action to tax windfall profits. Windfall profits occur if big energy companies that had dramatically increased their profits in the context of the war. Following our request, the European Commission submitted a recommendation to Member States to provide an answer to these extraordinary profits and tax them accordingly. This would help those suffering the most from the energy crisis in the EU. But only a few of the member states have moved forward, and it has definitely not been enough. 

Tax the 1% who benefit from the crisis to help the 99% who suffer

It was a good first step, but we require stronger measures. What was once seen as an ‘energy crisis’ has now become a cost of living crisis – spearheaded by the food crisis.  The consequences of these crises can be and already are brutal for the most vulnerable. To make things worse, a quick look into the market and we can immediately see that the largest corporations and conglomerates in fields such as food, big pharma, gas and oil, energy, and tech (to name just some of the more relevant ones) continue to make unprecedented profits at the cost of the rest of society. Banks and corporations across the EU keep telling citizens that a raise in their wages would only drive inflation out of control. In reality, it is the vast increase in corporate profits this time that cause the inflation.

An EU-wide windfall tax for those that profit from the war

A Union that prides itself in having the people at the heart of its policies cannot and should not allow that the very few continue profiting at the expense of the 99.9%. For this, and given the extraordinary situation we find ourselves in, we call for the Member States and the Commission to show serious ambition. We need to establish a coordinated approach to effectively address the cost of living crisis caused by corporations. The EU needs to implement a retroactive one-off windfall profit tax of 50% to all of the corporations that have seen an dramatic increase in their profits since the start of the war. We can then use the resulting revenues as a direct subsidy to those most affected by the crisis. 

We can calculate the retroactive one-off windfall profit tax by looking at the average profits of the previous five years. After, we compare these profits with the profits made in fiscal year 2022. The windfall tax would then tax the increased profit at 50%. 

For a just transition we need to put money where people need it the most

These revenues should be used by Governments to help citizens in a just transition to renewable energies through direct subsidies. Besides taxing the excess profits at 50% we also ask companies to reinvest 25% of excess profits in renewable energies. 

It is time to get serious and tackle the power that corporations have over people. Food giants cannot be gouging the prices of food at the expense of citizens. Energy giants cannot be making  billions in profits when citizens have to choose between freezing or eating. It is time to take action. If the Commission is as serious as it says  about ending inequalities and fighting for a green future, then it should fight for a harmonised windfall tax. We also need follow-up proposals so we never face this situation again. Let’s use this opportunity to invest in a future where we finally show respect for the people and the planet. 

The Greens/EFA have called to add the right to abortion into the EU Charter of fundamental rights. This July Plenary the European Parliament will debate the resolution.

“Taking away the right to abortion in the US is an attack on our rights. But it will hit women of colour, disabled women and other marginalised communities the most“

What’s happening in the US is an attack on women’s rights. It’s about control and power over women’s bodies and women’s lives. As with all reproductive rights restrictions, it is the most marginalised who will bear the brunt of this. It is women of colour, disabled women and pregnant people. Those who don’t have the resources to travel to states that do provide the care.

In Ireland, we know that restrictions in our legal framework and poor geographical coverage of services are also having a disproportionate adverse impact on marginalised communities here. I hope the US ruling will strengthen our collective resolve to demand that the ongoing Abortion Review tackles the legal barriers and brings our abortion care in line with WHO guidelines. 

Lessons from the US Supreme Court Ruling Roe v Wade – We cannot be complacent

The lesson from the US is that we can’t be complacent. We have to express solidarity with those directly impacted by the Supreme Court decision. We must continue to effectively organise and advocate for true reproductive rights here in Ireland.

Support and solidarity with a broad range of fellow reproductive health and rights advocates has been one of the most sustaining and fulfilling parts of my career to date. It’s so important to have that support system and to work together to achieve the change we know is urgently needed.

Poland imposes a near total ban of abortions in 2020 – Millions take on the streets for their abortion rights

Could you describe the situation of abortion access in Poland right now ?

In practice, abortion is prohibited in Poland. 

It is banned by the hands of the Polish Catholic Church and right-wing populists in power. They want to please the religious extremists and the international network of the Tradition Family and Property (TFP) sect. The TFP has a strong position in Poland thanks to the ruling right-wing populist coalition. 

The fight for freedom and human rights is a struggle between two realities. The reality of an authoritarian, patriarchal-religious-conservative past with an eco-feminist, sustainable and empathetic future. 

Abortion bans in Poland and now in the US – how are they connected?

The overruling of Roe v Wade worries me because the impact on the change of law in the US was made by the same international sect as in Poland. And it is both rich republicans from the US and Russian oligarchs who finance this Tradition Family and Property (TFP) sect.

If we do not resist together, the ban will spread from the US and Poland to other EU countries. It will spread through the EU, starting in Central and Eastern Europe.

But let’s also remember that feminism is not only about the right to abortion and the right to gender equality. It is a fight for our future. We have to show solidarity with our sisters from the global south. It is a fight for the next generation and for the future of our planet. 

Malta upholds a total ban on abortion – Each action for abortion rights counts!

What should green feminists across Europe know about the situation on abortion access in Malta?

Malta has completely banned abortion. And, like in other countries where abortion is illegal, all this does is exacerbate the divide between rich and poor. Criminalising abortion doesn’t stop them from happening. It turns it into a luxury service that many can never afford. This is especially true when people have to go abroad to access a safe abortion.

Malta’s pro-choice movement is growing year after year. However, it takes time to fight a status quo set in the 1850s. The first step for many activists has been to question the society we grew up in. We’ve had to unlearn years of inadequate education on sex and sexual health. We then had to challenge the taboo and stigma in our own families and communities. This takes hard work.

What are the struggles of abortion rights activists in Malta and how can we support them?

The best advice I have received for mobilising and campaigning came from the trans rights movement. It encouraged me to look comprehensively at the attacks on reproductive rights across our struggles. Reproductive rights are often undermined by those wishing to uphold and maintain racist, classist, and ableist structures in society. 

And I will contrast this with the worst advice: Being an openly pro-choice politician in Malta is political suicide. Unfortunately, many of my pro-choice colleagues in other parties continue to follow this advice. With time, I hope they find the courage to step up and make their voice heard.

Fighting for access to abortion in Malta – things to be aware of 

When it comes to self-care in activism, it is important to recognise and respect your own boundaries. I am one of the first publicly pro-choice politicians in Malta. This is why I faced a lot of hate online which triggered anxiety around public speaking and recording video messages. I am only starting to overcome it now, three years later. But it didn’t stop my work behind the scenes. I kept helping to build networks and push for policy change within the Greens.

Activism for sexual self-determination would not be possible without building a community. Just like drops in water, each individual action has a ripple effect impacting more people than we could ever know. So keep fighting!

Five ways to rise for our rights to safe and legal access to abortion in the EU and around the world

Disinformation is a powerful weapon in Russia’s war against Ukraine. With deep fake videos, misleading “facts” and outright lies going viral, some media outlets have called it the first social media war. But, how do Big Tech companies profit from spreading disinformation about the war? And what can we do to combat disinformation online? Patrick Breyer MEP explains how the EU’s Digital Services Act plays an important role in the fight against disinformation.

As the old adage goes, truth is the first casualty of war. Since the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, Big Tech platforms (like Facebook or Instagram, both owned by mega-corporation Meta) have hosted posts that deny, glorify and justify war crimes. Online platforms have a responsibility to identify and stop disinformation. And yet, these malicious posts continue to spread.

The truth is that disinformation is a profitable business for online platforms. The more outrageous and provocative their content is, the longer we stay on their apps and websites. And then there are automated ‘recommender systems’, algorithms that decide the content for your facebook feed or Youtube watch list. Those algorithms will often resort to showing us conspiracy theories, disinformation and polarising content in their desperation to keep us clicking.

Disinformation poses a severe threat to European societies. Extremis groups or authoritarian governments can use these recommender systems to spread lies and manipulate their followers. Stumble onto one Youtuber with extremist views? Here are five more you can follow. Right now, the Russian government is deceiving Russian citizens with disinformation to justify the aggression against Ukraine.

Read on to find out how the EU’s new legislation regulating online platforms – the EU Digital Services Act – could play an important role in the fight against disinformation.

The EU vs. Big Tech: who should decide what constitutes disinformation

In the battle against disinformation, it could be tempting to put the responsibility entirely in the hands of the tech companies. Big Tech is already policing some of what’s people are posting on their social networks.  On  February 26th, Meta took the decision to restrict access to Russia Today and Sputnik, two Russian media outlets, across Europe. Meanwhile, Twitter has  added extra labels to “Tweets that share links to Russian state-affiliated media websites.” Twitter now also labels “accounts and Tweets sharing links of state-affiliated media outlets in Belarus.”

Who should rule the internet?

However, the CEOs of Big Tech should not be encouraged to take backroom decisions over what content is visible. This only entrenches their control over what users in the European Union get to see and which information is credible. Governments making direct calls to Google and Meta represents a threat to democracy.

Filtering, removing or demoting legal content is the wrong approach. It’s prone to abuse and censorship and will drive people towards uncensored and unmoderated channels. These channels present them with often with even more extreme content. A better approach to this problem is to let users appreciate the credibility of information. Users can do this with fact-checking, warnings, background information and user rating (or flagging) systems. We can’t solve this problem with a quick-fix sticking plaster of censorship and bans. In the long term, we need an approach that encourages critical thinking, media literacy and media diversity to build a society that’s more resilient to the spread of disinformation.

Why is disinformation a profitable business for platforms?

In a study “the future of online advertising” commissioned by the Greens/EFA,  Duncan McCann, Will Stronge and Phil Jones exposed how platforms manipulate our personal data for profit. The study highlights how disinformation is a very profitable business. According to a 2020 report from the Global Disinformation Index, over $76m is paid by advertisers to disinformation sites every single year.

We commissioned a study on “The Future of Online Advertising” earlier this year. Our study is exposing how online platforms and Big Tech manipulate our personal data for profit.

Big Tech’s business models rely on ‘surveillance-based advertising’. Everything from our web searches to our clicks to our personal details is tracked. Our private data is used to choose which online ads to show us. But online platforms also profit from spreading and amplifying disinformation through their ‘recommender systems’. Algorithmic recommender systems curate which content users see while scrolling, based on content that they or their friends have interacted with before.

Recommender systems – why are they profit making machines for Big Tech?

During a hearing at the European Parliament, a whistle-blower from Meta (previously Facebook), Frances Haugen, revealed that algorithmic recommender systems actually favour disinformation and violence over factual content. Extreme content and disinformation are more likely to keep users scrolling on their social media feed. Therefore they create more income through ads for the Big Tech platforms.

So long as this remains the business model, problematic content will thrive. In fact, without the lucrative revenue from surveillance-based ads, disinformation sites would be less prolific. As a result we would potentially have less radicalisation and polarisation in our society.

We cannot tolerate that companies are making profit from the promotion of hatred and disinformation. Read on to find out how the Greens/EFA Group will continue the fight for EU-wide protection from hate speech and disinformation.

Information over profit – How the Greens/EFA want to stop disinformation

Russia’s war on Ukraine has caused a sudden spike in online disinformation, as the Kremlin scrambles to manipulate ordinary Russians into supporting the war. Manipulated photos, deepfake videos, fabricated news stories, unofficial social media accounts and outright lies have cropped up on all online platforms.

This has proven the urgency for the EU to step in and regulate online platforms and their algorithms. A new piece of EU legislation,  the Digital Services Act (DSA), has been negotiated which should do just this. The Digital Services Act aims to create a better and safer internet, protect our private data and give more power to people online. This is the perfect chance to crack down on disinformation.

How we will fight toxic algorithms and the spread of disinformation with the EU’s Digital Services Act:

• Banning surveillance advertising. We have to ban platforms from presenting ads to people-based profiling and tracking people using sensitive data (such as health, sexual orientation, religion etc).
• Having fair choices. Users should have a fair choice to say no to tracking advertising. And it shouldn’t be possible to trick internet users by making it harder to say no than yes. It should be easy to switch it off.
• Tackling manipulative algorithms and Big Tech’s divisive business models. We need to introduce clear and meaningful transparency rules and control over recommender systems and algorithms. Users have the right to opt out of the commercial recommender algorithms. Tech corporations should not be allowed to decide on their own what appears in the timelines of users and what does not.
• Ensuring researchers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) get access to the right data. The Digital Services Act will give researchers and NGOs the opportunity to analyse platform data and how profit-driven algorithms spread disinformation. This way we can make better laws to protect ourselves from it.
• Making sure Big Tech don’t get too powerful. The EU Commission has strong, centralised supervisory powers when it comes to the obligations for very large online platforms.

On 20th January 2022, the European Parliament voted on its position on the Digital Services Act. In April 2022, ministers from EU governments along with representatives from the European Parliament have negotiated the final text of the law. The European Parliament is expected to vote on the final text in the upcoming months.

Let’s fight disinformation together!

Il mondo è in fiamme. Una pandemia globale infuria. L’economia si muove al rallentatore. Non ci sono posti di lavoro. I giovani non possono permettersi di lasciare la casa dei genitori o di vivere da soli. Leggere le notizie è deprimente. Non c’è da stupirsi che i problemi di salute mentale tra i giovani(dai 15 ai 24 anni) siano raddoppiati in un solo anno. Tre dei nostri stagisti Greens/EFA – Marco, Carolina e Timothy, giovani provenienti da tutta l’UE – ci raccontano come sono stati colpiti dalla disoccupazione, dalla crisi degli alloggi e dal cambiamento climatico, e il conseguente l’impatto sulla loro salute mentale.

Insieme al Covid-19, un’altra pandemia invisibile ha travolto il mondo dall’inizio del 2020. Stiamo parlando della crisi della salute mentale giovanile. Da quando è iniziata la pandemia, i giovani hanno infatti dal 30% all’80% di probabilità in più di sperimentare la depressione o l’ansia, secondo un rapporto dell’OCSE (Organizzazione per la cooperazione e lo sviluppo economico).

Le cause dei problemi di salute mentale tra i giovani sono varie. E, naturalmente, ogni giovane ha i propri fardelli personali. Tuttavia, è chiaro che la nostra generazione debba affrontare alcuni problemi comuni, di enorme gravità. Per questo motivo, in questo blog osserviamo più da vicino tre questioni che i giovani devono affrontare in Europa – la crisi climatica, la disoccupazione e la crisi degli alloggi – chiedendoci: com’è affrontare questi problemi come giovane nell’UE? E come possiamo proteggere la nostra salute mentale?

Mentre leggi, perché non ascolti la nostra playlist sulla salute mentale? Danziamo insieme sui nostri problemi, che fa bene! 

DOVER LOTTARE PER UN ALLOGGIO: QUANTO INFLUENZA LA SALUTE MENTALE DEI GIOVANI?

Carolina viene da Madrid, in Spagna

Carolina ha 23 anni. Abbiamo fatto una chiacchierata con lei e ci ha raccontato quanto la difficoltà per aggiudicarsi un alloggio al giorno d’oogi influenzi la nostra generazione, aggiungendo alcune sue riflessioni sul conseguente impatto sulla salute mentale dei giovani.

Che impatto ha la crisi degli alloggi in Europa sui giovani?

Trovare una casa è molto più difficile che in passato, soprattutto per i giovani. Mentre i nostri genitori o nonni alla nostra età probabilmente avevano già un lavoro e una casa, noi riusciamo a malapena a pagare l’affitto ogni mese.

Ho avuto la fortuna di vivere in quattro paesi: Spagna, Francia, Belgio e Regno Unito. In tutti, ho visto come i miei amici abbiano sofferto lo stress e l’incertezza di non sapere dove avrebbero vissuto il mese successivo. O trovi qualcosa ad un prezzo accessibile o, se no, devi prendere le tue cose e tornare a casa.

I prezzi elevati e un mercato immobiliare in rapida evoluzione rendono il trovare un posto economico in cui vivere una vera e propria lotta. Spesso ci sono fin troppi requisiti necessari prima di poter firmare un contratto: assicurarsi un contratto di lavoro, trovare un garante, risparmiare per poter pagare un deposito… delle barriere che molti giovani semplicemente non riescono a superare. Per esempio, a Lione, ho vissuto in un alloggio privato per studenti. Anche lì, mi hanno chiesto informazioni sullo stipendio dei miei genitori negli ultimi due anni e necessariamente due garanti. Nonostante io fossi una studentessa con una borsa Erasmus.

In Spagna, ho anche visto le diverse realtà del vivere in grandi città come Barcellona e Madrid. L’affitto medio mensile in queste due città è dell’82% più caro che nel resto del paese. Dovendo anche pagare per la loro istruzione, i miei amici che vengono a Madrid da altre città difficilmente riescono a trovare una stanza ad un prezzo accessibile,

In media, i giovani costituiscono il 20-30% del numero totale dei senzatetto nella maggior parte dei paesi europei. Questi numeri sono aumentati negli ultimi anni e la situazione è solo peggiorata durante la pandemia.

Anche i più fortunati, che possono permettersi di pagare l’affitto, devono destinare più del 50% del loro stipendio all’alloggio. Il che rende difficile arrivare a fine mese. Gli stage non pagati o i bassi salari aggiunti all’alto costo dell’affitto nella maggior parte dei paesi europei rendono il tutto un circolo vizioso dal quale non si ha scampo.

I giovani sono intrappolati: non siamo in grado di firmare un contratto d’affitto da soli, non possiamo permetterci l’affitto e non possiamo risparmiare per la nostra futura casa.

E la condivisione di un appartamento? È questo il futuro degli alloggi per i giovani?

Condividere un appartamento con altre cinque persone è diventata la cosa normale per chi ha 20 o 30 anni. In città come Madrid, Barcellona, Parigi, Amsterdam o Bruxelles, l’affitto medio mensile di un appartamento è di circa 1000€, mentre lo stipendio medio dei giovani in Spagna o in Italia è di 1200€. Non è difficile fare i conti. L’unico modo per diventare indipendenti è condividere un appartamento.

Condividere un appartamento è spesso definito come “un’esperienza che arricchisce” o “vivere in un ambiente multiculturale”. E spesso viene chiamato co-living. Questa dicitura cerca di romanzare la situazione molto precaria in cui si trovano tanti giovani in tutta Europa. In realtà, vivere con degli estranei non è una mera preferenza personale – ma la nostra unica opzione.

Cosa c’entra la crisi degli alloggi con la salute mentale?

Il costo dell’affitto, l’ansia di non trovare un posto dove vivere o di dover contare sul sostegno finanziario dei propri genitori sono paure condivise da molti giovani in tutta Europa.

L’incertezza rende quasi impossibile per i giovani anche solo pensare di avere figli o comprare una casa senza un lavoro stabile, cambiando di fatto le nostre principali scelte di vita, facendoci spesso sentire intrappolati e senza valore. Questa insicurezza sul futuro crea uno stress costante e la preoccupazione di ciò che accadrà dopo.

Le lotte per l’alloggio possono portare a incertezza, insicurezza, ansia, sentirsi a disagio o sentirsi depressi. Questi sentimenti possono anche peggiorare qualsiasi condizione di salute mentale pre-esistente. La maggior parte dei giovani senza una casa ha già a che fare con problemi di salute mentale, il che può rendere ancora più difficile per loro superare le difficoltà di alloggio.

Mi piacerebbe vedere una strategia UE per la salute mentale. Abbiamo bisogno di un approccio europeo alla salute mentale. In modo che non importa da dove tu venga in Europa, ma che i servizi di salute mentale siano accessibili a tutti noi. E, naturalmente, dobbiamo garantire l’accesso a case a prezzi accessibili per tutti.

DISOCCUPAZIONE: COME INFLUISCE SULLA SALUTE MENTALE DEI GIOVANI?

Marco viene da Pavia, in Italia

Marco ha 26 anni. Ci ha raccontato come rimanere disoccupato lo abbia colpito mentalmente e come questo influisca sulla salute mentale dei giovani più in generale.

Marco, come ti sei sentito ad essere disoccupato durante la pandemia?

Avevo 24 anni quando mi sono trasferito da Copenhagen a Bruxelles, sperando di iniziare presto la mia vita lavorativa.

Dopo i primi giorni, ho capito che il livello di competizione per ottenere uno stage retribuito relativo ai miei interessi (relazioni internazionali e cooperazione) era eccessivamente alto. Il mercato del lavoro era completamente saturo. Quindi, come spesso nella mia vita ho cercato di trovare un lavoro in un bar, un ristorante o un negozio. Senza, non sarei stato in grado pagare le bollette. Purtroppo, nel giro di due settimane tutte queste attività hanno dovuto chiudere causa Covid.

Così, ho abbassato ulteriormente le mie aspettative, sperando semplicemente di trovare una qualsiasi fonte di reddito il più presto possibile. Ho iniziato a inviare un’infinita serie di domande di lavoro, le quali tornavano cronicamente a destinazione fresche di rifiuto. Iniziavano sempre con: “Nonostante il suo profilo sia altamente qualificato per la posizione, in questa occasione, abbiamo deciso di non portare avanti la sua candidatura“. O ancora: “Le scrivo per farle sapere che non è stato selezionato per il colloquio, ma siamo sicuri che troverà qualcos’altro in futuro, visto il suo brillante profilo!“. Apparentemente, però, il mio profilo da solo non bastava. Avevo bisogno di una previa esperienza lavorativa prima di poter ottenere la mia vera e propria esperienza lavorativa. Paradossale, non trovate?

Di fatto, ho passato mesi in una condizione precaria, sia mentalmente che finanziariamente. Le restrizioni per arginare gli effetti del Covid-19 e l’isolamento hanno ovviamente avuto un ulteriore impatto negativo sulla mia routine quotidiana. Dopo sei mesi, avevo quasi raggiunto un esaurimento. Alla fine, sono stato costretto a tornare a casa in Italia per alcuni mesi, il che mi ha fatto sentire peggio. Pensavo di aver perso la battaglia per ottenere un lavoro, dopo aver appena ottenuto due lauree magistrali.

In che modo la pandemia di Covid-19 e la disoccupazione hanno colpito i giovani?

Alla fine, ho comunque deciso di rinunciare ad un lavoro remunerato e iniziare uno stage non pagato. Ciò sia per continuare a incrementare il mio CV (cosa che è apparentemente successa), sia per convincermi che almeno stavo facendo qualcosa.

La realtà è che nonostante i vari lavori part-time che ho fatto durante gli studi, sono sempre stato dipendente da qualcuno. Mi considero una persona estremamente fortunata, perché la mia famiglia è sempre stata in grado di supportarmi economicamente e mentalmente. Ma più di una volta ho sentito che la mia stessa dignità mi stesse venendo tolta. Questa sensazione di inadeguatezza, mi ha fatto dubitare delle mie capacità, rimettere in discussione le scelte di studio che avevo fatto  e perdere la fiducia nel sistema occupazionale.

Avete avuto un’esperienza simile negli ultimi due anni? Non siete soli.
Secondo una ricerca di Eurostat, nel 2020 c’erano quasi 14 milioni di giovani adulti (tra i 20 e i 34 anni) che non erano né occupati né in formazione.

Un altro studio a livello europeo ha scoperto che il benessere mentale ha raggiunto il suo livello più basso in tutti i gruppi di età dall’inizio della pandemia, più di due anni fa. Non sorprende che i giovani abbiano sperimentato più solitudine, depressione e isolamento sociale di qualsiasi altro gruppo.

Cosa si sta facendo a livello europeo per affrontare la disoccupazione e la salute mentale dei giovani nell’UE?

Il 2022 è l’anno europeo della gioventù. L’obiettivo sarebbe mettere in luce l’importanza di dare voce alle sfie che noi giovani dobbiamo affrontare quotidianamente. Ad un livello più pratico, gli Stati membri dell’UE hanno presentato i loro piani di investimento per migliorare il livello di vita complessivo dei giovani nell’Unione europea, dopo la pandemia Covid-19.

Kim Van Sparrentak, una delle più giovani eurodeputate dei Verdi/ALE, ha affrontato la

questione lo scorso febbraio con un brillante discorso nel dibattito del Parlamento europeo, “Una gioventù, un’Europa”.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Greens/EFA-European Parliament (@greensefa)

Inoltre, il gruppo dei Verdi/ALE da mesi lavora mano nella mano con la FYEG (l’organizzazione ombrello dei Giovani Verdi in Europa). Insieme, abbiamo organizzato una campagna per il divieto degli stage non pagati e una per garantire uno standard minimo di diritti per le condizioni di lavoro dei giovani.

Per me, questo sarebbe il primo passo concreto per colmare un vuoto che troppi giovani devono subire prima di poter guadagnare un reddito decente e dignitoso e per iniziare la loro transizione verso l’età adulta.

ANSIA DA CLIMA: COME INFLUISCE IL CAMBIAMENTO CLIMATICO SULLA SALUTE MENTALE DEI GIOVANI?

Timothy viene da Trier, in Germania

Timothy ha 26 anni ed è di doppia nazionalità scozzese e tedesca. Insieme abbiamo discusso di come il cambiamento climatico influisca sulla salute mentale dei giovani, alimentando le loro ansie e paure. 

Cos’è esattamente l’ansia da clima?

L’ansia climatica è una forma di angoscia psicologica per la minaccia posta dalla crisi climatica. È un fenomeno relativamente nuovo, ma i suoi effetti sono diffusi. Uno studio recente proveninete dalla Germania ha mostrato che il 55% dei giovani sono preoccupati dagli impatti del cambiamento climatico sul loro benessere.

Come giovani, tendiamo a sperimentare l’ansia climatica più intensamente poiché siamo la generazione che subisce (e subirà sempre più) le conseguenze di un pianeta che si riscalda. L’ansia climatica tra i giovani è spesso associata ad un senso di impotenza che nasce quando i governi fanno troppo poco per fermare il cambiamento climatico.

Oggi, abbiamo raggiunto un periodo in cui stiamo vedendo le conseguenze del cambiamento climatico dispiegarsi davanti ai nostri occhi. Tutti abbiamo assistito o siamo stati personalmente colpiti da disastri naturali come incendi boschivi, siccità e inondazioni. C’è un senso di inevitabilità riguardo al cambiamento climatico. Si sta facendo troppo poco, troppo tardi. L’ansia climatica nei giovani è aumentata, perché temono per il loro futuro e per quello del pianeta.

Questa ansia è anche giustificata dal recente rapporto dell’IPCC (Gruppo Intergovernativo di Scienziati sul Cambiamento Climatico), che ci dice che questi disastri climatici peggioreranno se i governi non iniziano ad agire ora. Inazione sul cambiamento climatico significa non dare priorità alla protezione della salute mentale dei giovani.

Timothy, puoi dirci cosa significa per te l’ansia da clima?

L’ansia climatica per me è un’esperienza profondamente personale. L’anno scorso ho assistito alla devastazione causata da gravi inondazioni vicino alla mia città natale, Trier, in Germania. Più di 200 persone in Europa hanno perso la vita a causa delle inondazioni.

Ricordo bene le emozioni di quell’estate. Mi sentivo triste e impotente guardando il telegiornale. Era lo stesso senso di impotenza che ho provato durante il picco della pandemia di Covid-19. Solo che questa volta, la catastrofe ha colpito ancor più “vicino” a casa.

La mia paura oggi è che questo tipo di eventi si ripetano ancora e ancora. Più che paura, è una triste realtà. Soprattutto perché l’ansia climatica non sembra qualcosa che i giovani dovrebbero affrontare da soli. Come giovane, non dovrei preoccuparmi dell’ignoranza e dell’inazione dei governi nella lotta contro il cambiamento climatico. Nella mia visione, l’ansia climatica è un peso inutile sulle spalle dei giovani.

Cosa possiamo fare per l’ansia climatica?

In primo luogo, abbiamo assolutamente bisogno di servizi di salute mentale più abbordabili e accessibili.

Se i governi vogliono davvero mostrare di prendere sul serio l’ansia climatica, allora dovrebbero fare tutto ciò che è in loro potere per migliorare l’assistenza alla salute mentale. Questo include anche più fondi per la ricerca sui problemi di salute mentale.

Per fortuna, ho visto che nonostante tutti gli ostacoli già menzionati, la nostra generazione è davvero resiliente. Infatti, dopo un’assenza di 2 anni, abbiamo visto gli attivisti del clima tornare nelle strade per il primo sciopero globale del clima dopo la pandemia.

Personalmente, ho scoperto che partecipare ad una manifestazione mi fa superare le molte emozioni negative che associo al cambiamento climatico. Mi sento rafforzato e trovo un senso di appartenenza, poiché vedo che la mia generazione è unita in questa lotta collettiva. Ciò mi aiuta davvero a tranquillizzarmi un po’.

In definitiva, però, l’unico modo per eliminare l’ansia climatica come una delle radici dei problemi di salute mentale è quello di mitigare il cambiamento climatico. Abbiamo bisogno di un’azione chiara sul clima e ne abbiamo bisogno ora. (Leggete come i Verdi/EFA hanno spinto per l’azione climatica nell’UE).

In ogni caso, dobbiamo continuare a fare pressione. Per ora, il nostro strumento più potente per chiedere conto a chi prende le decisioni è portare la lotta per la giustizia climatica nelle strade. Dobbiamo esigere che i politici agiscano ora – non solo per il bene della nostra salute mentale, ma per un futuro degno del nostro meraviglioso pianeta.

QUINDI, DOVE ANDIAMO DA QUI?

È inutile nascondersi, la maggior parte di noi avrà un problema di salute mentale ad un certo punto della propria vita. Ogni giovane che ha bisogno di servizi di terapia merita l’accesso a opzioni di terapia appropriate, indipendentemente dalla sua situazione finanziaria.

Quindi, abbiamo bisogno di una strategia europea per la salute mentale. Abbiamo bisogno di servizi di salute mentale che siano abbordabili e accessibili a tutti, soprattutto per i più poveri, per i migranti e per i più vulnerabili.

Per risolvere la crisi della salute mentale dei giovani, abbiamo bisogno di:

• Un diritto ai servizi di salute mentale in tutta l’UE

• Finanziamenti per la cura e la ricerca sulla salute mentale

• Garantire una casa a tutte le persone abitanti nell’UE

• Indennità di alloggio per i giovani

• Un reddito minimo in tutta l’UE

• Il divieto degli stage non pagati

Ci rendiamo conto che non ci sono soluzioni rapide a grandi problemi come la disoccupazione, il costo degli alloggi e la crisi climatica. Eppure, le nostre storie mostrano che i problemi di salute mentale dei giovani dovrebbero essere presi sul serio. 

Siamo stanchi della pandemia del Covid-19. Siamo stanchi della pandemia relativa alla salute mentale dei giovani.

Chiaramente, ora siamo a un bivio. I governi dell’UE o continuano a ignorare le cause profonde della salute mentale, o iniziano ad agire. Speriamo che le nostre storie abbiano dato loro qualche spunto di riflessione.

Ora vogliamo sentire le vostre opinioni!

Che esperienza avete avuto a livello di salute mentale durante la pandemia? Soffrite di ansia da clima? Cosa pensate della guerra in Ucraina?

Non vediamo l’ora di leggere le vostre storie sotto questo post su Instagram.
Saremo prontissimi a respondervi – ci vediamo lì!

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El mundo está en llamas. Una pandemia mundial hace estragos. La economía va a cámara lenta. No hay trabajo. Los jóvenes no pueden permitirse independizarse de sus padres o vivir por su cuenta. Leer las noticias es deprimente. No es de extrañar que los problemas de salud mental entre los jóvenes (de 15 a 24 años) se hayan duplicado en sólo un año. Tres de nuestros becarios de Los Verdes/ALE –Marco, Carolina y Timothy, jóvenes de toda la UE- nos cuentan cómo les han afectado el desempleo, la crisis de la vivienda y el cambio climático, y el impacto que ha tenido en su propia salud mental.

Junto a la COVID-19, otra pandemia invisible ha arrasado el mundo desde principios de 2020. Se trata de la crisis sobre la salud mental de los jóvenes. Los jóvenes tienen entre un 30% y un 80% más de probabilidades de sufrir depresión o ansiedad desde que comenzó la pandemia, según un informe de la OCDE.

Las causas de los problemas de salud mental entre los jóvenes son muchas. Y, por supuesto, cada joven tiene sus propias cargas personales. Sin embargo, está claro que nuestra generación se enfrenta a algunos enormes problemas comunes. Nos centraremos en tres temas que afrontan los jóvenes en Europa -la crisis climática, el desempleo y la vivienda- y nos preguntaremos: ¿cómo es enfrentarse a estos problemas como joven en la UE? ¿Y cómo podemos proteger nuestra salud mental?

Mientras lees, ¿por qué no escuchas nuestra lista de reproducción sobre salud mental? Siéntete libre y baila un poco con nosotros sobre estos problemas compartidos

LUCHA POR LA VIVIENDA: ¿CÓMO AFECTA A LA SALUD MENTAL DE LOS JÓVENES?

Carolina de Madrid, España

Carolina tiene 23 años. Hemos charlado con ella y nos ha contado cómo afecta la lucha por la vivienda a su generación y cómo cree que afecta a la salud mental de los jóvenes.

¿Cómo afecta la crisis de la vivienda en Europa a los jóvenes?

Encontrar una casa es mucho más difícil ahora que en el pasado, sobre todo para los jóvenes. Mientras que nuestros padres o abuelos probablemente ya tenían un trabajo y una casa a nuestra edad, nosotros apenas conseguimos pagar el alquiler cada mes.

He tenido la suerte de vivir en cuatro países: España, Francia, Bélgica y Reino Unido. En todos ellos, he visto cómo mis amigos sufrían el estrés y la incertidumbre de no saber dónde vivirían al mes siguiente. Si encontrarían algo a un precio asequible o si tendrían que recoger sus cosas y volver a casa.

Los altos precios y la rapidez con la que cambia el mercado de la vivienda hacen que sea una verdadera lucha encontrar un lugar barato para vivir. A menudo hay tantos requisitos antes de poder firmar un contrato: tener un contrato de trabajo, encontrar un garante, ahorrar para un depósito… Es una barrera que muchos jóvenes simplemente no podrán cruzar. En Lyon, viví en un alojamiento privado para estudiantes. Aun así, me pidieron el sueldo de mis padres de los dos últimos años y dos avalistas, a pesar de ser una estudiante con una beca Erasmus.

En España, también he visto las diferentes realidades de vivir en grandes ciudades como Barcelona y Madrid. El alquiler medio mensual en estas dos ciudades es un 82% más caro que en el resto del país. Mis amigos que vienen a Madrid desde otras ciudades apenas consiguen encontrar una habitación a un precio asequible, y además tienen que pagar por su educación.

De media, los jóvenes representan entre el 20 y el 30% del total de personas sin hogar en la mayoría de los países europeos. Estas cifras han aumentado en los últimos años y la situación no ha hecho más que empeorar durante la pandemia.

Incluso los más afortunados, que pueden permitirse pagar un alquiler, tienen que destinar más del 50% de su salario a la vivienda. Lo que hace difícil poder llegar a fin de mes. Las prácticas no remuneradas o los bajos salarios sumados al alto coste del alquiler en la mayoría de los países europeos lo convierten en un círculo vicioso.

Los jóvenes estamos atrapados: somos incapaces de firmar un contrato de alquiler por nosotros mismos, incapaces de pagar un alquiler e incapaces de ahorrar para nuestra propia casa.

¿Y si compartimos piso? ¿Es éste el futuro de la vivienda para los jóvenes?

Compartir un piso con otras cinco personas se ha convertido en lo normal para las personas de entre 20 y 30 años. En ciudades como Madrid, Barcelona, París, Ámsterdam o Bruselas, el alquiler medio mensual de un piso ronda los 1000 euros, mientras que el salario medio de los jóvenes en España o Italia es de 1200 euros. No es difícil hacer las cuentas. La única forma de independizarse es compartir piso.

A menudo se habla de compartir piso como una “experiencia enriquecedora” o “vivir en un entorno multicultural”. Y a menudo se le llama co-living. Esta expresión trata de idealizar la situación tan precaria en la que se encuentran tantos jóvenes en toda Europa. Vivir con extraños no es una preferencia personal guay: es nuestra única opción.

¿Qué tiene que ver la crisis de la vivienda con la salud mental?

El coste del alquiler, la angustia de no encontrar un sitio donde vivir o tener que depender del apoyo económico de tus padres son temores compartidos por muchos jóvenes en toda Europa.

La incertidumbre hace que a los jóvenes les resulte casi imposible pensar en tener hijos o comprar una casa sin tener un trabajo estable. Hace que cambien nuestras principales opciones de vida. Puede hacernos sentir atrapados e inútiles. Esta inseguridad sobre el futuro crea un estrés y una preocupación constante sobre lo que pasará después.

Los problemas de vivienda pueden provocar incertidumbre, inseguridad, ansiedad, sensación de incomodidad o depresión. Estos sentimientos también pueden empeorar cualquier condición de salud mental anterior. La mayoría de los jóvenes sin hogar ya tienen problemas de salud mental, lo que hace aún más difícil superar estos obstáculos.

Me gustaría ver una estrategia de salud mental de la UE. Necesitamos un enfoque europeo de la salud mental. Para que, sea cual sea el lugar de Europa en el que te encuentres, los servicios de salud mental sean asequibles y accesibles para todos nosotros. Y, por supuesto, tenemos que garantizar el acceso a viviendas asequibles para todos.

DESEMPLEO: ¿CÓMO AFECTA A LA SALUD MENTAL DE LOS JÓVENES?

Marco, de Milán, Italia

Marco tiene 26 años. Nos ha contado cómo le ha afectado mentalmente estar en paro y cómo afecta a la salud mental de los jóvenes en general.

Marco, ¿qué sentiste al estar desempleado durante la pandemia?

Tenía 24 años cuando me trasladé de Copenhague a Bruselas, con la esperanza de empezar pronto mi vida laboral.

Tras los primeros días, comprendí que había mucha competencia para conseguir unas prácticas remuneradas relacionadas con mis intereses (Relaciones Internacionales y Cooperación). El mercado laboral estaba saturado. Intenté encontrar un trabajo en un bar, un restaurante o una tienda para poder pagar mis facturas. Pero, por desgracia, en dos semanas todo había cerrado.

Así que rebajé mis expectativas y simplemente esperé encontrar cualquier fuente de ingresos lo antes posible. Continué con cientos de solicitudes y posteriores rechazos. Siempre empezaban diciendo: “A pesar de que su perfil es altamente cualificado para el puesto, en esta ocasión hemos decidido no seguir con su solicitud”. O también: “Le escribo para comunicarle que no ha sido seleccionado para una entrevista, pero estamos seguros de que encontrará algo más en el futuro, teniendo en cuenta su brillante perfil”. Pero mi perfil no era suficiente. Necesitaba experiencia laboral antes de conseguir experiencia laboral.

Me pasé meses en una situación precaria, tanto mental como económicamente. Las restricciones de COVID y el confinamiento tuvieron un impacto negativo aún mayor en mi día a día. Al cabo de seis meses, casi había llegado al límite. Finalmente, me vi obligado a volver a casa, a Italia, durante unos meses, lo que me hizo sentir aún peor. Pensé que había perdido la batalla para conseguir un trabajo.

¿Cómo ha afectado la pandemia del COVID-19 y el desempleo a los jóvenes?

Al final, decidí renunciar a un trabajo remunerado y decidí empezar unas prácticas no remuneradas para seguir impulsando mi CV (cosa que conseguí) y por lo menos así sentir que estaba haciendo algo.

Tengo la suerte de que mi familia pudo apoyarme de una u otra manera. Pero, a pesar de los diversos trabajos a tiempo parcial que tuve, siempre he dependido de alguien. Más de una vez sentí que me quitaban mi propia dignidad. Ese sentimiento de incapacidad me hizo dudar de mis habilidades, dudar de las decisiones que había tomado y de perder la confianza en el sistema laboral.

¿Has tenido una experiencia similar en los últimos dos años? No estás solo.
Según un estudio de Eurostat, en 2020 había casi 14 millones de adultos jóvenes (de 20 a 34 años) que no tenían empleo y tampoco estaban en proceso de educación y formación.

Otro estudio a escala europea reveló que el bienestar mental ha alcanzado su nivel más bajo en todos los grupos de edad desde el comienzo de la pandemia, hace más de dos años. Los jóvenes han experimentado más soledad, depresión y aislamiento social que cualquier otro grupo de edad.

¿Qué se está haciendo para combatir el desempleo y la salud mental de los jóvenes en la UE?

2022 es el Año Europeo de la Juventud, cuyo objetivo es poner de manifiesto la importancia de dar voz a los retos que tiene que afrontar nuestra juventud. Los Estados miembros de la UE han presentado sus planes para mejorar el nivel de vida general de los jóvenes en la Unión Europea, tras la pandemia del COVID-19.Kim Van Sparrentak, una de los eurodiputadas más jóvenes del Grupo de los Verdes/ALE, abordó esta cuestión el pasado mes de febrero con un brillante discurso en el debate del Parlamento Europeo, “Una juventud, una Europa”.

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El Grupo de los Verdes/ALE trabaja codo con codo con FYEG (la organización que agrupa a los Jóvenes Verdes en Europa). Juntos, estamos haciendo campaña por la prohibición de las prácticas no remuneradas y por un estándar mínimo de derechos para las condiciones de trabajo de los jóvenes.

Para mí, este sería el primer paso práctico para llenar un vacío que demasiados jóvenes tienen que sufrir antes de poder obtener unos ingresos decentes y dignos y comenzar la transición a la edad adulta.

ANSIEDAD CLIMÁTICA: ¿CÓMO AFECTA EL CAMBIO CLIMÁTICO A LA SALUD MENTAL DE LOS JÓVENES?

Timothy, de Tréveris, Alemania

Timothy tiene 26 años y tiene nacionalidad escocesa y alemana. Juntos hablamos de cómo el cambio climático afecta a la salud mental de los jóvenes y aumenta su ansiedad.

¿Qué es exactamente la ansiedad climática?

La ansiedad climática es una forma de malestar psicológico por la amenaza que supone la crisis climática. Es un fenómeno relativamente nuevo, pero sus efectos están muy extendidos. Un estudio reciente realizado en Alemania mostró que el 55% de los jóvenes estaban preocupados por el impacto del cambio climático en su bienestar.

Como jóvenes, tendemos a experimentar la ansiedad climática con mayor intensidad, ya que somos la generación que soportará las consecuencias de un planeta que se calienta. La ansiedad climática entre los jóvenes se atribuye a menudo a un sentimiento de impotencia que surge cuando los gobiernos hacen muy poco por detener el cambio climático.

Ahora hemos llegado a un periodo en el que estamos viendo las consecuencias del cambio climático desplegarse ante nuestros ojos. Todos hemos sido testigos o incluso nos hemos visto personalmente afectados por catástrofes naturales como incendios forestales, sequías e inundaciones. El cambio climático tiene una sensación de inevitabilidad. Se está haciendo demasiado poco y demasiado tarde. La ansiedad por el clima se ha disparado entre los jóvenes, que temen por su propio futuro y el del planeta.

Esta ansiedad también se ve alimentada por el reciente informe del IPCC (Grupo Intergubernamental de Expertos sobre el Cambio Climático), que nos dice que estos desastres climáticos empeorarán si los gobiernos no empiezan a actuar ahora. La inacción ante el cambio climático significa inacción en la protección de la salud mental de los jóvenes.

Timothy, ¿puedes decirnos qué significa para ti la ansiedad climática?

La ansiedad climática es para mí una experiencia profundamente personal. El año pasado fui testigo de la devastación causada por graves inundaciones cerca de mi ciudad natal, Tréveris, en el oeste de Alemania. Más de 200 personas perdieron la vida en Europa a causa de las inundaciones.

Recuerdo bien las emociones de aquel verano. Me sentí triste e impotente al ver las noticias. Era la misma sensación de impotencia que experimenté durante el pico de la pandemia del COVID-19. Sólo que esta vez, la catástrofe fue muy cerca de casa.

Mi temor hoy es que este tipo de acontecimientos se repitan una y otra vez. Es una triste realidad. Especialmente, porque la ansiedad por el clima no parece algo con lo que los jóvenes deban lidiar. Como joven, no debería tener que preocuparme por la ignorancia y la inacción de los gobiernos en la lucha contra el cambio climático. La ansiedad climática es una carga innecesaria sobre las espaldas de los jóvenes.

¿Qué podemos hacer contra la ansiedad climática?

En primer lugar, necesitamos más servicios de salud mental asequibles y accesibles.

Si los gobiernos quieren demostrar que se toman en serio la ansiedad climática, deberían hacer todo lo que esté en su mano para mejorar la atención a la salud mental. Esto también incluye una mayor financiación para la investigación de los problemas de salud mental.

Afortunadamente, he visto que a pesar de todos los obstáculos, nuestra generación es resistente. Tras dos años de ausencia, hemos visto cómo los activistas del clima volvían a las calles para la primera huelga climática mundial desde la pandemia.

Lo que he descubierto es que asistir a una manifestación me hace superar las muchas emociones negativas que asocio con el cambio climático. Me siento empoderado y encuentro un sentido de pertenencia, ya que veo que mi generación está luchando juntos. Me ayuda a tranquilizarme un poco.

En última instancia, sin embargo, la única manera de eliminar la ansiedad climática como una de las raíces de los problemas de salud mental es mitigar el cambio climático. Necesitamos una acción climática clara y la necesitamos ahora. (Lee cómo los Verdes/ALE han estado presionando para que se tomen medidas climáticas en la UE).

Debemos mantener la presión. Por ahora, nuestra herramienta más poderosa para hacer que los responsables de la toma de decisiones rindan cuentas es llevar la lucha por la justicia climática a las calles. Debemos exigir a los políticos que actúen ahora, no sólo por nuestra salud mental, sino por un futuro digno en nuestro hermoso planeta.

¿A DÓNDE VAMOS A PARTIR DE AQUÍ?

La mayoría de nosotros tendrá un problema de salud mental en algún momento de su vida. Todos los jóvenes que necesitan servicios de terapia merecen tener acceso a opciones terapéuticas adecuadas, independientemente de su situación económica.

Necesitamos una estrategia de salud mental en la UE. Necesitamos servicios de salud mental asequibles y accesibles para todos. Y especialmente para los más pobres, para los inmigrantes y para los más vulnerables.

Para solucionar la crisis de salud mental de los jóvenes, necesitamos

• Derecho a los servicios de salud mental en toda la UE
• Financiación para la atención e investigación en salud mental
• Poner fin a la falta de vivienda en la UE
• Subsidios de vivienda para los jóvenes
• Una renta mínima en toda la UE
• Prohibición de las prácticas no remuneradas

Somos conscientes de que no hay una rápida solución para estos problemas tan grandes como son el desempleo, la vivienda y la crisis climática. Sin embargo, nuestras historias demuestran que los problemas de salud mental de los jóvenes deben tomarse en serio. Estamos cansados de la pandemia del COVID-19. Estamos cansados de la pandemia de la salud mental.

Está claro que nos encontramos en una encrucijada. Los gobiernos de la UE o siguen ignorando las causas fundamentales de la salud mental o empiezan a actuar. Esperamos que nuestras historias os hayan hecho reflexionar.

¡Ahora queremos conocer tu opinión!

¿Cuál ha sido tu experiencia con la salud mental durante la pandemia? ¿Tienes ansiedad climática? ¿Qué opinas de la guerra en Ucrania?

Estamos deseando que nos lo cuentes en este post de Instagram. Estaremos en los comentarios respondiéndote. ¡Nos vemos allí!

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Die Welt steht in Flammen. Eine globale Pandemie wütet. Die Wirtschaft läuft auf Sparflamme. Es gibt keine Jobs. Junge Menschen können es sich nicht leisten, aus dem Haus ihrer Eltern auszuziehen oder allein zu leben. Nachrichten zu lesen ist deprimierend. Es ist kein Wunder, dass sich die mentalen Probleme junger Menschen (15- bis 24-Jährige) in nur einem Jahr verdoppelt haben. Drei unserer Grünen/EFA-Praktikant*innen – Marco, Carolina und Timothy, junge Menschen aus der ganzen EU – erzählen uns, wie sie von Arbeitslosigkeit, der Wohnungskrise und dem Klimawandel betroffen sind und welche Auswirkungen das auf ihre eigene psychische Gesundheit hat.

Neben COVID-19 gibt es seit Anfang 2020 eine weitere, unsichtbare Pandemie, die den Globus erfasst hat. Die Rede ist von der Krise der mentalen Gesundheit von jungen Menschen. Einem Bericht der OECD (Organisation für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung) zufolge ist die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass junge Menschen an Depressionen oder Angstzuständen leiden, seit Beginn der Pandemie um 30 bis 80 % gestiegen.

Die Ursachen für psychische Probleme bei jungen Menschen sind vielfältig. Und natürlich hat jeder junge Mensch seine eigenen persönlichen Belastungen. Es ist jedoch klar, dass unsere Generation mit einigen großen gemeinsamen Problemen zu kämpfen hat. Wir werfen einen genaueren Blick auf drei Themen, mit denen junge Menschen in Europa konfrontiert sind – die Klimakrise, Arbeitslosigkeit und Wohnungsnot – und fragen: Wie sieht es aus, wenn man als junger Mensch in der EU mit diesen Problemen konfrontiert ist? Und wie können wir unsere psychische Gesundheit schützen?

Während du liest, kannst du dir unsere Playlist zur mentalen Gesundheit anhören. Du kannst auch gerne ein bisschen mit uns über unsere gemeinsamen Probleme tanzen!

WOHNUNGSNOT: WIE WIRKT SIE SICH AUF DIE PSYCHISCHE GESUNDHEIT VON JUNGEN MENSCHEN AUS?

Carolina aus Madrid, Spanien

Carolina ist 23 Jahre alt. Sie hat uns erzählt, wie sich die Wohnungsnot auf unsere Generation auswirkt und wie sie glaubt, dass sie die psychische Gesundheit von jungen Menschen beeinträchtigt.

Wie wirkt sich die Wohnungskrise in Europa auf junge Menschen aus?

Eine Wohnung zu finden ist viel schwieriger als früher – vor allem für junge Menschen. Während unsere Eltern oder Großeltern in unserem Alter wahrscheinlich schon einen Job und ein Haus hatten, schaffen wir es kaum, jeden Monat die Miete zu bezahlen.

Ich habe das Glück, bereits in vier Ländern gelebt zu haben: Spanien, Frankreich, Belgien und dem Vereinigten Königreich. In allen Ländern habe ich gesehen, wie meine Freunde unter dem Stress und der Ungewissheit litten, nicht zu wissen, wo sie im nächsten Monat wohnen würden. Ob sie etwas zu einem erschwinglichen Preis finden würden oder ob sie ihre Sachen abholen und wieder nach Hause fahren müssten. 

Hohe Preise und ein sich schnell verändernder Wohnungsmarkt machen es zu einem echten Kampf, eine günstige Wohnung zu finden. Oft gibt es so viele Anforderungen, bevor du einen Vertrag unterschreiben kannst: einen Arbeitsvertrag vorweisen, einen Bürgen finden, für eine Kaution sparen. Das ist eine Hürde, die viele junge Leute einfach nicht überwinden können. In Lyon habe ich in einer privaten Unterkunft für Studenten gewohnt. Trotzdem verlangten sie von mir einen Gehaltsnachweis meiner Eltern für die letzten zwei Jahre und zwei Bürgen, obwohl ich Studentin mit einem Erasmus-Stipendium war.

Warum gestaltet sich die Wohnungssuche in europäischen Städten so schwierig?

In Spanien habe ich auch gesehen, wie unterschiedlich die Lebensbedingungen in Großstädten wie Barcelona und Madrid sind. Die durchschnittliche Monatsmiete in diesen beiden Städten ist 82 % teurer als im Rest des Landes. Meine Freunde, die aus anderen Städten nach Madrid kommen, haben es kaum geschafft, ein Zimmer zu einem erschwinglichen Preis zu finden, während sie auch noch für ihre Ausbildung bezahlen müssen.

In den meisten europäischen Ländern machen junge Menschen im Durchschnitt 20-30 % der Gesamtzahl der Obdachlosen aus. Diese Zahlen sind in den letzten Jahren gestiegen und die Situation hat sich während der Pandemie noch verschlimmert.

Selbst die Glücklichen, die es sich leisten können, Miete zu zahlen, müssen mehr als 50 % ihres Lohns für die Unterkunft aufwenden. Das macht es schwierig, über die Runden zu kommen. Unbezahlte Praktika oder niedrige Löhne zusammen mit den hohen Mietkosten in den meisten europäischen Ländern machen es zu einem Teufelskreis. 

Junge Menschen sitzen in der Falle: Wir sind nicht in der Lage, selbst einen Mietvertrag zu unterschreiben, können uns die Miete nicht leisten und sind nicht in der Lage, für eine eigene Wohnung zu sparen.

Wie wäre es mit einer Wohngemeinschaft? Ist das die Zukunft des Wohnens für junge Menschen?

Eine Wohnung mit fünf anderen Menschen zu teilen ist für Menschen mit Mitte 20 oder 30 normal geworden. In Städten wie Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam oder Brüssel liegt die durchschnittliche Monatsmiete für eine Wohnung bei 1000 €, während der Durchschnittslohn für junge Menschen in Spanien oder Italien bei 1200 € liegt. Es ist klar – diese Rechnung geht nicht auf. Die einzige Möglichkeit, unabhängig zu werden, ist eine Wohngemeinschaft.

Das Teilen einer Wohnung wird oft als „bereichernde Erfahrung” oder „Leben in einem multikulturellen Umfeld” bezeichnet. Und oft wird es auch als Zusammenwohnen bezeichnet. Mit dieser Formulierung wird versucht, die sehr prekäre Situation, in der sich so viele junge Menschen in ganz Europa befinden, zu romantisieren. Das Zusammenleben mit Fremden ist keine coole persönliche Vorliebe – es ist unsere einzige Option.

Was hat die Wohnungskrise mit mentaler Gesundheit zu tun?

Die Kosten für die Miete, die Angst, keine Wohnung zu finden oder auf die finanzielle Unterstützung der Eltern angewiesen zu sein, sind Ängste, die viele junge Menschen in ganz Europa teilen. 

Die Ungewissheit macht es für junge Menschen fast unmöglich, ohne einen festen Job überhaupt daran zu denken, Kinder zu bekommen oder ein Haus zu kaufen. Sie verändert unsere wichtigsten Lebensentscheidungen. Sie kann dazu führen, dass wir uns gefangen und wertlos fühlen. Diese Unsicherheit über die Zukunft erzeugt ständigen Stress und die Sorge, was als Nächstes passieren wird. 

Wohnungsnot kann zu Ungewissheit, Unsicherheit, Ängsten, Unbehagen oder Depressionen führen. Diese Gefühle können auch bestehende psychische Erkrankungen verschlimmern. Die meisten obdachlosen jungen Menschen haben bereits mit mentalen Problemen zu kämpfen, was es für sie noch schwieriger machen kann, die Hürden der Wohnungssuche zu überwinden.

Ich würde mir eine EU-Strategie für psychische Gesundheit wünschen. Wir brauchen einen europaweiten Ansatz für die psychische Gesundheit. Egal, wo in Europa du herkommst, mentale Gesundheitsdienste sind für uns alle erschwinglich und zugänglich. Und natürlich müssen wir den Zugang zu bezahlbaren Wohnungen für alle sicherstellen.

ARBEITSLOSIGKEIT: WIE WIRKT SIE SICH AUF DIE PSYCHISCHE GESUNDHEIT VON JUNGEN MENSCHEN AUS?

Marco aus Mailand, Italien

Marco ist 26 Jahre alt. Er hat uns erzählt, wie sich die Arbeitslosigkeit auf seine Psyche ausgewirkt hat und wie sie sich auf die mentale Gesundheit von jungen Menschen im Allgemeinen auswirkt. 

Marco, wie hat es sich angefühlt, während der Pandemie arbeitslos zu sein?

Ich war 24 Jahre alt, als ich von Kopenhagen nach Brüssel zog, in der Hoffnung, bald ins Arbeitsleben einsteigen zu können. 

Nach den ersten Tagen wurde mir klar, dass die Konkurrenz um einen bezahlten Praktikumsplatz in meinem Interessengebiet (Internationale Beziehungen und Zusammenarbeit) sehr groß war. Der Stellenmarkt war gesättigt. Ich versuchte, einen Job in einer Bar, einem Restaurant oder einem Laden zu finden, um meine Rechnungen bezahlen zu können. Aber leider machte alles innerhalb von zwei Wochen dicht. 

Also schraubte ich meine Erwartungen herunter und hoffte einfach, so schnell wie möglich irgendeine Einnahmequelle zu finden. Ich durchlief eine scheinbar unendliche Reihe von Bewerbungsprozessen und bekam nur Ablehnungen zurück. Sie begannen immer mit: „Obwohl Ihr Profil sehr gut zu dieser Stelle passt, haben wir uns in diesem Fall entschieden, Ihre Bewerbung nicht weiter zu bearbeiten”. Oder: „Ich schreibe Ihnen, um Ihnen mitzuteilen, dass Sie nicht für ein Vorstellungsgespräch ausgewählt wurden, aber wir sind uns sicher, dass Sie aufgrund Ihres hervorragenden Profils in Zukunft etwas anderes finden werden!”. Aber mein Profil allein reichte nicht aus. Ich brauchte Arbeitserfahrung, bevor ich ein Praktikum bekommen konnte.

Ich verbrachte Monate in einer prekären Situation, sowohl mental als auch finanziell. Die COVID-Beschränkungen und der Lockdown hatten weitere negative Auswirkungen auf meinen Tagesablauf. Nach sechs Monaten hatte ich fast ein Burnout erreicht. Schließlich war ich gezwungen, für ein paar Monate zurück nach Italien zu gehen, was meine Lage noch verschlimmerte. Ich dachte, ich hätte den Kampf um einen Job verloren.

Wie haben sich die COVID-19-Pandemie und die Arbeitslosigkeit auf junge Menschen ausgewirkt?

Am Ende entschied ich mich, einen bezahlten Job aufzugeben und ein unbezahltes Praktikum zu machen, um meinen Lebenslauf aufzubessern (was auch gelang) und um wenigstens das Gefühl zu haben, etwas zu tun.

Ich hatte das Glück, dass meine Familie mich auf die eine oder andere Weise unterstützen konnte. Aber trotz der verschiedenen Teilzeitjobs, die ich nebenher hatte, war ich immer auf jemanden angewiesen. Mehr als einmal hatte ich das Gefühl, dass mir meine Würde geraubt wurde. Dieses Gefühl der Unzulänglichkeit ließ mich an meinen Fähigkeiten zweifeln, meine Entscheidungen in Frage zu stellen und das Vertrauen in das Beschäftigungssystem verlieren. 

Hast du in den letzten zwei Jahren eine ähnliche Erfahrung gemacht? Du bist nicht allein. 
Einer Studie von Eurostat zufolge gab es im Jahr 2020 fast 14 Millionen junge Erwachsene (im Alter von 20 bis 34 Jahren), die weder erwerbstätig waren noch eine Ausbildung absolvierten.

Neueste Erkenntnisse zu Arbeitslosigkeit und mentaler Gesundheit junger Menschen

Was wird getan, um Arbeitslosigkeit und psychische Gesundheit junger Menschen in der EU zu bekämpfen?

2022 ist das Europäische Jahr der Jugend, das die Bedeutung der europäischen Jugend ins Rampenlicht rücken soll. Die EU-Mitgliedstaaten haben ihre Investitionspläne vorgelegt, um den allgemeinen Lebensstandard junger Menschen in der Europäischen Union nach der COVID-19-Pandemie zu verbessern.

Kim Van Sparrentak, eine der jüngsten Europaabgeordneten der Grünen/EFA, hat das Thema im vergangenen Februar mit einer brillanten Rede in der Debatte des Europäischen Parlaments „Eine Jugend, ein Europa” angesprochen.

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Die Grünen/EFA-Fraktion arbeitet Hand in Hand mit der FYEG (Vereinigung Junger Europäischer Grüner). Gemeinsam setzen wir uns für ein Verbot von unbezahlten Praktika und für einen Mindeststandard an Rechten für die Arbeitsbedingungen junger Menschen ein.

Für mich wäre das der erste praktische Schritt, um eine Lücke zu schließen, die zu viele junge Menschen durchlaufen müssen, bevor sie ein anständiges, menschenwürdiges Einkommen erzielen und ihren Übergang ins Erwachsenenleben beginnen können.

KLIMAANGST: WIE WIRKT SICH DER KLIMAWANDEL AUF DIE MENTALE GESUNDHEIT VON JUNGEN MENSCHEN AUS?

Timothy aus Trier, Deutschland

Timothy ist 26 Jahre alt und hat die schottische und deutsche Staatsangehörigkeit. Gemeinsam haben wir darüber gesprochen, wie sich der Klimawandel auf die psychische Gesundheit junger Menschen auswirkt und ihre Ängste schürt.

Was genau ist Klimaangst?

Klimaangst ist eine Form der psychischen Belastung durch die Bedrohung, die von der Klimakrise ausgeht. Sie ist ein relativ neues Phänomen, aber ihre Auswirkungen sind weit verbreitet. Eine aktuelle Studie aus Deutschland hat gezeigt, dass 55 % der jungen Menschen über die Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf ihr Wohlbefinden besorgt sind.

Als junge Menschen neigen wir dazu, die Klimaangst intensiver zu erleben, da wir die Generation sind, die die Folgen der Erderwärmung tragen wird. Die Klimaangst von jungen Menschen wird oft auf ein Gefühl der Machtlosigkeit zurückgeführt, das entsteht, wenn Regierungen zu wenig tun, um den Klimawandel aufzuhalten.

Wir haben jetzt eine Phase erreicht, in der wir die Folgen des Klimawandels direkt vor unseren Augen sehen. Viele von uns haben Naturkatastrophen wie Waldbrände, Dürren und Überschwemmungen miterlebt oder waren sogar selbst davon betroffen. Wir haben das Gefühl, dass der Klimawandel unausweichlich ist. Es wird zu wenig und zu spät getan. Bei jungen Menschen hat die Angst vor dem Klimawandel stark zugenommen, weil sie um ihre eigene Zukunft und die des Planeten fürchten.

Diese Angst wird auch durch den jüngsten IPCC-Bericht (Weltklimarat) geschürt, der uns verdeutlicht, dass die Klimakatastrophen noch schlimmer werden, wenn die Regierungen nicht sofort handeln. Tatenlosigkeit beim Klimawandel bedeutet Tatenlosigkeit beim Schutz der psychischen Gesundheit von jungen Menschen.

Timothy, kannst du uns sagen, was Klimaangst für dich bedeutet?

Klimaangst ist für mich eine sehr persönliche Erfahrung. Letztes Jahr wurde ich Zeuge der verheerenden Überschwemmungen in der Nähe meiner Heimatstadt Trier, Rheinland-Pfalz. Mehr als 200 Menschen in Europa verloren ihr Leben durch die Fluten.

Ich erinnere mich noch gut an die Erlebnisse in diesem Sommer. Ich fühlte mich traurig und machtlos, als ich die Nachrichten sah. Es war dasselbe Gefühl der Hilflosigkeit, das ich während des Höhepunkts der COVID-19-Pandemie erlebte. Nur dass die Katastrophe dieses Mal so nah an meinem Zuhause war.

Heute befürchte ich, dass sich solche Ereignisse immer wiederholen werden. Das ist eine traurige Realität. Vor allem, weil sich Klimaangst nicht wie etwas anfühlt, mit dem sich junge Menschen beschäftigen sollten. Als junger Mensch sollte ich mir keine Sorgen über die Ignoranz und Untätigkeit von Regierungen im Kampf gegen den Klimawandel machen müssen. Die Klimaangst ist eine unnötige Last auf den Schultern junger Menschen.

Was können wir gegen die Klimaangst tun? 

Zum einen brauchen wir unbedingt mehr erschwingliche und zugängliche Gesundheitsdienste für Menschen mit mentalen Problemen. 

Wenn die Regierungen wirklich zeigen wollen, dass sie die Klimaangst ernst nehmen, dann sollten sie alles in ihrer Macht stehende tun, um die psychische Gesundheitsversorgung zu verbessern. Dazu gehört auch, dass mehr Mittel für die Erforschung von mentalen Problemen bereitgestellt werden. 

Zum Glück habe ich festgestellt, dass unsere Generation trotz aller Hindernisse widerstandsfähig ist. Nach zweijähriger Abwesenheit haben wir alle miterlebt, wie Klimaaktivisten für den ersten globalen Klimastreik seit der Pandemie auf die Straße gegangen sind. 

Ich habe für mich selbst herausgefunden, dass die Teilnahme an einer Kundgebung mich die vielen negativen Gefühle überwinden lässt, die ich mit dem Klimawandel verbinde. Ich fühle mich gestärkt und habe das Gefühl, dazuzugehören, weil ich sehe, dass meine Generation diesen Kampf gemeinsam führt. Das hilft mir wirklich, mich ein bisschen zu beruhigen.

Letztendlich können wir die Klimaangst als eine der Ursachen für psychische Probleme aber nur beseitigen, wenn wir den Klimawandel eindämmen. Wir brauchen klare Klimaschutzmaßnahmen und zwar jetzt. (Lies nach, wie die Grünen/EFA auf Klimamaßnahmen in der EU gedrängt haben).

Wir müssen den Druck aufrechterhalten. Unser mächtigstes Instrument, um Entscheidungsträger*innen zur Rechenschaft zu ziehen, ist es, den Kampf für Klimagerechtigkeit auf die Straße zu tragen. Wir müssen von Politikerinnen und Politikern verlangen, dass sie jetzt handeln – nicht nur um unserer geistigen Gesundheit willen, sondern für eine lebenswerte Zukunft auf unserem schönen Planeten.

UND WIE GEHT ES NUN WEITER?

Die meisten von uns werden irgendwann in ihrem Leben ein mentales Problem haben. Jeder junge Mensch, der Therapie benötigt, hat unabhängig von seiner finanziellen Situation das Recht auf Zugang zu angemessenen Therapieangeboten.

Wir brauchen eine EU-Strategie für psychische Gesundheit. Wir brauchen psychische Gesundheitsdienste, die erschwinglich und für alle zugänglich sind. Vor allem für die Bedürftigsten, für Migrant*innen und für alle, die Schutz benötigen. 

Um die Krise der mentalen Gesundheit junger Menschen zu lösen, brauchen wir:

• Ein Recht auf psychosoziale Dienste in der gesamten EU
• Finanzielle Mittel für die psychische Gesundheitsversorgung und Forschung
• Ein Ende der Obdachlosigkeit in der EU
• Wohngeld für junge Menschen
• Ein EU-weites Mindesteinkommen
• Ein Verbot von unbezahlten Praktika

Uns ist klar, dass es keine schnellen Lösungen für große Probleme wie Arbeitslosigkeit, Wohnungsnot und die Klimakrise gibt. Doch unsere Geschichten zeigen, dass die Sorgen junger Menschen um ihre mentale Gesundheit ernst genommen werden sollten. Wir haben genug von der COVID-19-Pandemie. Und wir haben genug von der Pandemie der psychischen Gesundheit. 

Europa befindet sich jetzt eindeutig an einem Scheideweg. Entweder ignorieren die EU-Regierungen weiterhin die Ursachen für die psychische Gesundheit oder sie beginnen zu handeln. Wir hoffen, dass unsere Geschichten ihnen einen Denkanstoß gegeben haben. 

Und jetzt seid ihr dran!

Wie geht es eurer mentalen Gesundheit seit Beginn der Pandemie? Beeinflusst der Klimawandel auch eure mentale Gesundheit?

Wir würden uns freuen, wenn ihr euch mit uns unter diesem Instagram Post austauscht. Wir warten in den Kommentaren auf euch – wir sehen uns also dort!

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The world is on fire. A global pandemic is raging. The economy is in slow mo. There are no jobs. Young people can’t afford to move out of their parents’ house or live on their own. Reading the news is depressing. It’s no wonder that youth mental health problems have doubled in just one year. This year’s #EuropeanMentalHealthWeek three of our Greens/EFA interns – Marco, Carolina and Timothy, young people from all over the EU – tell us how they have been affected by unemployment, the housing crisis and climate change, and the impact on their own mental health.

Alongside COVID-19, another invisible pandemic has swept the globe since the beginning of 2020. We are talking about the crisis in youth mental health. Young people are 30% to 80% more likely to experience depression or anxiety since the pandemic started, says a report by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).

The causes of mental health issues amongst young people are varied. And, of course, each young person has their own personal burdens. However, it is clear that our generation is confronted with some huge common problems. We’re taking a closer look at three issues facing young people in Europe – the climate crisis, unemployment and housing – and asking: what is it like to face these problems as a young person in the EU? And how can we protect our mental health?

While you read, why not listen to our mental health playlist? Feel free to dance a little with us over our shared problems!

Housing struggles: how do they affect youth mental health?

Carolina from Madrid, Spain

Carolina is 23 years old. We had a chat with her and she told us how housing struggles affect our generation’s mental health.

How is the housing crisis in Europe impacting young people?

Finding a house is much more difficult than it was in the past – particularly for young people. While our parents or grandparents already had a job and a house at our age, we barely manage to pay rent each month.

I’ve been lucky enough to live in four countries: Spain, France, Belgium and the UK. In all of them, I’ve seen how my friends suffered the stress and uncertainty of not knowing where they would live next month. If they would find something at an affordable price or if they would have to pick up their things and go home again.

High prices and a rapidly changing housing market make it a real struggle to find anywhere cheap to live. Often there are so many requirements before you can sign a contract. You have to secure an employment contract, find a guarantor, save for a deposit. It’s a barrier many young people simply won’t be able to cross. In Lyon, I lived in private accommodation for students. Even so, they asked me for my parents’ salary over the last two years and for two guarantors. This was despite being a student with an Erasmus grant.

Why is finding housing in European cities so difficult?

In Spain, I’ve also seen the different realities of living in big cities such as Barcelona and Madrid. The average monthly rent in these two cities is 82% more expensive than in the rest of the country. My friends coming to Madrid from other cities hardly managed to find a room at an affordable price. At the same time they had to pay for their education.

On average, young people make up 20-30% of the total number of homeless people in the majority of European countries. These numbers have increased in the last years and the situation has only become worse during the pandemic.

Even the luckiest, who can afford to pay rent, have to put more than 50% of their wages towards housing. Which makes it difficult to make ends meet. Unpaid internships or low wages added to the high cost of rent in most European countries makes it a vicious circle.

Young people are trapped. We’re unable to sign a rental contract by ourselves. Most of us are unable to afford rent and unable to save for our own home.

What about sharing a flat? Is this the future of housing for young people?

Sharing a flat with five other people has become the normal thing for people in their mid-20s or 30s. In cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam or Brussels, the average monthly rent for a flat is around 1000€. All the while, the average wage for young people in Spain or Italy is 1200€. It’s not difficult to do the maths. The only way to become independent is to share a flat.

People talk about sharing a flat as an ‘enriching experience’ or ‘living in a multicultural environment’. They call it co-living. This wording tries to romanticise the very precarious situation so many young people find themselves in all over Europe. Living with strangers is not a cool personal preference – it’s our only option.

What has the housing crisis got to do with mental health?

The cost of rent, the anxiety of not finding a place to live or having to rely on your parents’ financial support are fears that many young people throughout Europe share.

The uncertainty makes it almost impossible for young people to even think about having children. Let alone buying a house without a stable job. It changes our major life choices. It can make us feel trapped and worthless. This insecurity about the future creates constant stress and concern about what will happen next.

Housing struggles can lead to uncertainty, insecurity, anxiety, feeling uncomfortable or feeling depressed. These feelings can also worsen any existing mental health conditions. The majority of homeless young people are already dealing with mental health issues, which can make it even harder for them to overcome the housing hurdles.

I would like to see an EU mental health strategy. We need an Europe-wide approach to mental health. So no matter where in Europe you’re from, mental health services are affordable and accessible to all of us. And, of course, we have to ensure access to affordable homes for everyone.

Unemployment: how does it affect youth mental health?

Marco from Pavia, Italy

Marco is 26 years old. He told us how being unemployed has affected him mentally and how it is affecting youth mental health in general.

Marco, how did it feel being unemployed during the pandemic?

I was 24 when I moved from Copenhagen to Brussels, hoping to start my working life soon.

After the first few days, I understood that the level of competition to get a paid internship related to my interests (International Relations and Cooperation) was very high. The job market was saturated. I tried to find a job in a bar, a restaurant or a shop. Without it I would not have been able to pay my bills. But, unfortunately, within two weeks everything closed down.

So, I lowered my expectations and simply hoped to find any source of income as soon as possible. I carried on through aseemingly infinite series of application forms and subsequent rejections. They always started with, “Despite your profile being highly qualified for the position, on this occasion, we’ve decided not to take your application further”. Or again, “I’m writing to let you know that you’ve not been selected for an interview, but we are sure you will find something else in the future, considering your brilliant profile!”. But my profile alone wasn’t enough. I needed work experience before I could get work experience.

I spent months in a precarious condition, both mentally and financially. Covid-19 restrictions and the lockdown had a further negative impact on my daily routine. After six months, I had almost reached a burnout. Eventually, I had to go back home to Italy for a few months, which made me feel worse. I thought I had lost the battle to win a job.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic and unemployment affected young people?

In the end, I decided to give up on a paid job and start an unpaid internship to keep boosting my CV. It definitely did – and at least I felt like I was doing something.

I’m lucky enough that my family was able to support me in one way or the other. But, despite the various part-time jobs I had on the side, I’ve always been dependent on somebody. More than once, I felt that my very dignity was being stripped away from me. Such a feeling of inadequacy made me doubt my skills. It also made me second guess the choices I’d made and lose confidence in the employment system.

Have you had a similar experience in the last two years? You are not alone.

According to research by Eurostat, in 2020 there were almost 14 million young adults (aged 20–34) who were neither in employment nor in education and training.

A recent study by the European Parliament showed that young people were particularly affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

What is being done to tackle unemployment and youth mental health in the EU?

2022 is the European Year of Youth, which aims to shine a light on the importance of on the importance of giving a voice to the challenges that our youth has to undergo. EU Member States have submitted their investment plans to improve overall living standards for young people in the European Union, after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kim Van Sparrentak, one of the Greens/EFA’s youngest MEPs, addressed the issue last February with a brilliant speech in the European Parliament debate, “One youth, one Europe”.

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The Greens/EFA Group works hand in hand with the FYEG (the umbrella organisation for Young Greens in Europe). Together, we’re campaigning for a ban on unpaid internships. We want a minimum standard of rights for young people’s working conditions.

For me, this would be the first practical step to fill a gap that too many young people have to undergo before being able to earn a decent, dignified income and start their transition into adulthood.

Climate anxiety: how does climate change affect young people’s mental health?

Timothy from Trier, Germany

Timothy is 26 years old, and of Scottish and German nationality. Together we discussed how climate change affects youth mental health and fuels young people’s anxiety.

What is climate anxiety exactly?

Climate anxiety is a form of psychological distress from the threat posed by the climate crisis. It’s a relatively new phenomenon, but its effects are widespread. A recent study from Germany showed that 55% of young people were concerned by the impacts of climate change on their wellbeing.

As young people, we tend to experience climate anxiety more intensely. We are the generation that will bear the consequences of a warming planet. Climate anxiety among the youth is often attributed to a sense of powerlessness that arises when governments do too little to stop climate change.

We have now reached a period where we’re seeing the consequences of climate change unfold in front of our eyes. We have all witnessed or even been personally affected by natural disasters like forest fires, droughts and floods. There is a sense of inevitability about climate change. Too little is being done, too late. Climate anxiety in young people has shot up, as they fear for their own and the planet’s future.

This anxiety is also fuelled by the recent IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report, that tells us that these climate disasters will get worse if governments do not start acting now. Inaction on climate change means inaction on protecting youth mental health.

Timothy, can you tell us what climate anxiety means to you?

Climate anxiety to me is a deeply personal experience. Last year, I witnessed the devastation caused by severe floods close to my hometown of Trier, in the west of Germany. More than 200 people in Europe lost their lives to the floods.

I remember the emotions of that summer well. I felt sad and powerless watching the news. It was that same sense of helplessness I experienced during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only this time, the catastrophe hit so close to home.

My fear today is that these types of events will happen over and over again. It is a sad reality. Especially, because climate anxiety does not feel like something young people should be dealing with. As a young person, I should not have to worry about the ignorance and inaction of governments in the fight against climate change. Climate anxiety is an unnecessary burden on the backs of young people.

What can we do about climate anxiety?

First, we absolutely need more affordable and accessible mental health services.

If governments really want to show that they take climate anxiety seriously, then they should do everything in their power to improve mental health care. This also includes more funding for research into mental health issues.

Thankfully, I have seen that despite all obstacles, our generation is a resilient one. After a 2-year absence, we saw climate activists return to the streets for the first global climate strike since the pandemic.

What I have found out for myself is that attending a rally makes me overcome the many negative emotions I associate with climate change. I feel empowered and find a sense of belonging, as I see that my generation is in this fight together. It really helps put my mind at ease a bit.

Ultimately, the only way we can eliminate climate anxiety as one of the roots for mental health problems is to mitigate climate change. We need clear climate action and we need it now. (Read how the Greens/EFA have been pushing for climate action in the EU).

We must keep up the pressure. Our most powerful tool to hold decision-makers to account is to take the fight for climate justice to the streets. We must demand that politicians act now. Not just for the sake of our mental health, but for a worthwhile future on our beautiful planet.

So, where do we go from here?

Most of us will have a mental health problem at some point in our life. Every young person in need of therapy services deserves access to appropriate therapy options, regardless of their financial situation.

We need an EU mental health strategy. We need mental health services that are affordable and accessible to all. And especially for the poorest, for migrants and for the most vulnerable.

To fix the mental health crisis for young people, we need:

• A right to mental health services across the EU
• Funding for mental health care and research
• An end to homelessness in the EU
• Housing allowances for young people
• An EU-wide minimum income
• A ban of unpaid internships

We realise that there are no quick fixes to big problems like unemployment, housing and the climate crisis. Yet, our stories show that young people’s mental health concerns should be taken seriously. We are tired of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are tired of the mental health pandemic.

Clearly, we are now at a crossroads. EU governments either keep ignoring the root causes for mental health or start acting. We hope that our stories have given them some food for thought.

Now we want to hear from you!

What are your experiences with mental health during the pandemic? Do you have climate anxiety? What are your thoughts on the war in Ukraine? We are looking forward to hear from under this Instagram post.

We will be in the comments to reply – see you there!

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Olena Prokopchuk was in Kyiv when the Russian invasion of Ukraine started. She is now based in Lviv and works for a Ukrainian human rights organisation called “Right to Protection”. Her dad, sister and brother are still in Kyiv. With her once peaceful life now being torn apart by war, Olena writes about her hopes for peace and the reality of living a life she didn’t choose – like all people affected by the war in Ukraine.

— UPDATE —

Since her last blog was published, Olena’s friend and colleague, and environmental activist, Semen was killed defending Severodonetsk, a town in Eastern Ukraine, just 12 days after his wedding. His death is a reminder of the tragic and senseless loss of life due to the Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Olena would like to publish the following testimonial to Semen:

“Twelve days after his wedding, environmental activist turned soldier, Semen, was killed while defending Severodonetsk in the East of Ukraine.

Semen dreamt of  becoming an arborist. At 22, he was already an environmental activist, a deputy military commander, a best friend, a comrade, a son, a brother and a husband.

I knew Semen as a colleague. He joined our small team in the environmental foundation, Peli can live, in the winter of 2021. After our first Zoom meeting, my colleague and I shared our impressions of him. Slightly naive. Very responsible. Open and honest. To put it diplomatically: he spoke frankly. His honesty and direct manner were well intentioned. Neither management nor his colleagues were ever offended by it.

We met in person only two or three times. During the pandemic, we worked remotely. I was living outside Kyiv, in the Zhytomyr region. Our meetings were wonderful, inspiring and joyful. We met to discuss the organization’s development strategy and priorities.”

“We talked, argued and laughed a lot. More than anything, I would like to live this day again.”

Then, in June 2022, Semen was killed while defending Severodonetsk, a town in Eastern Ukraine.

Leadership, dignity, selflessness, light, support to others, love for people and nature was all about you, Semen.

Just before his death, Semen gave an interview to the Ukrainian military journalist Yuriy Butusov, and also shared his sleeping bag with him. It was a usual thing for him – to share with others everything he had, to give his food or warm clothes, convincing everyone that he needed it the least.”

Semen died defending Severodonetsk at the age of 22. His body was brought to Kyiv, and his ashes were scattered by his relatives in Trakhtemirivskyi island. 

It’s hard to let you go, Semen. You and thousands of others who, like you, while being so young, so brave, active, honest and open, took up arms. You, Roman Ratushny, Artem Dymyd and many others – you are forever in our hearts. In your young age, you have achieved so much! Semen, wherever you are now, may you be surrounded by the Zaporozhzhia steppes, the slopes of the Dnipro and the Carpathian mountains. Ukraine is standing, Ukraine is fighting.”

To read more about Semen in the words of his friends, colleagues and family, please click here.

— Оновлення —

З часу публікації останнього блогу Олени, її друг і колега, екологічний активіст Семен загинув, захищаючи Сєвєродонецьк, місто на сході України, всього через 12 днів після свого весілля. Його смерть є нагадуванням про трагічну і безглузду втрату життя внаслідок російської агресії в Україні.

Семен міг стати арбористом – мріяв про це. У свої 22 роки він уже був природоохоронцем, заступником командира роти (став ним лише за кілька місяців), а ще – найкращим другом, бойовим товаришем, сином, братом і чоловіком.

Я знала Семена як колегу:  він приєднався до нашої  маленької команди природоохоронного фонду «Peli can live» взимку 2021 року. Після першої ж спільної Zoom-зустрічі ми з колегою обмінялися враженнями й зійшлись на думці, що хлопець ок. Злегка наївний, дуже відповідальний, відкритий і чесний:  те, що я намагалася загорнути в дипломатичну форму, він говорив відверто. Ось ця його чесність і прямота підкупали: ніхто – ні керівництво, ні колеги – на це ніколи не ображалися.

Ми зустрічалися наживо лише двічі чи тричі. Під час пандемії  ми працювали дистанційно, до того ж я жила за Києвом, у Житомирській області. Проте це були чудові, натхненні й веселі зустрічі. Ми зустрілися, щоб обговорити стратегію розвитку організації та пріоритети нашої роботи. Ми багато говорили, сперечалися і сміялися. Більш за все я хотіла б пережити цей день знову.

У червні 2022 року Семен загинув, захищаючи Сєвєродонецьк, місто на сході України.

Лідерство, благородство, безкорисливість, підтримка інших, світло, любов до людей та природи – це все про тебе, Семен.

Напередодні загибелі Семен дав інтерв’ю українському військовому журналісту Юрію Бутусову, а ще поділився з ним своїм спальником. Для нього це було як зазвичай – поділитися з ближнім тим, що мав, віддати свою їжу чи теплий одяг, переконавши всіх, що йому це треба найменше.

…Семен загинув при захисті Сєвєродонецька у віці 22 років, його тіло вдалося привезти до Києва, його прах рідні розвіяли над Трахтемирівським півостровом. Буквально за 12 днів до загибелі Семен одружився.

Важко Тебе відпускати, Семене. Ти і тисячі таких, як Ти, які, ще будучи такими молодими, такими сміливими, активними, чесними і відкритими, взяли до рук зброю. Ти, Роман Ратушний, Артем Димид і багато інших – ви назавжди у наших серцях. За ваш юний вік ви змогли так непомірно багато!.. Семене, хай там, де Ти є зараз, Тебе оточують запорізькі степи, схили Дніпра і карпатські гори. Україна стоїть, Україна бореться.

Більше про Семена зі слів його друзів, колег та рідних можна прочитати за посиланням.

5 May 2022

I never intended to be a hero. At 32, I was thinking about other things. Being unhappy with office work. My next career move. Whether I’d ever be able to buy my own place. Wanting to get married and start a family. I never wanted to fear for my life, or count the number of explosions, or ask my friends if they were safe and sound, or read the news about the women raped just a few miles from my apartment. Least of all, did I want to be a hero.

Today in Ukraine, each of us is a hero. We get up in the morning and read the news. We message dozens of people during the day, just to make sure they’re alive. We work and volunteer. Each of us is a link among many others, ensuring that Ukraine stands strong against Russia.

I did not believe it would last this long. First, that we would be able to defend ourselves so strongly. And second, that it would take so much time. We want to go back to peace as soon as possible.

All I wanted to do in the first hours of Russian aggression was run and hide – and make sure I was no longer threatened. Back in January, my friends and I had decided that if the war started, we would leave the city together. Our plan was to go to Vorzel, a small town just next to Bucha, Irpin and Hostomel – the places where the Russian military have shown an inhuman level of cruelty and violence.

“All I wanted to do in the first hours of Russian aggression was run and hide. I was lucky to spend the first days of the war with someone who said it would be safer in a big city. She saved me from making any hasty mistakes.“

Instead, I stayed in Kyiv. I was lucky to spend the first days of the war with someone who knew where to find information about the safest place during the shelling. She balanced me emotionally and helped me get through the first shock of the war. She said it would be safer in a big city – and that saved me from making any hasty mistakes.

I spent the first twenty days of this new phase of the war in Kyiv. After that, I couldn’t take it any longer. It became clear from the damage that the missiles were flying right over my head — and it was only a matter of time or chance before they would hit my house. So we fled to Lviv. We spent four days travelling – me, my colleague and our three cats.

“It became clear from the damage that the missiles were flying right over my head — and it was only a matter of time or chance before they would hit my house.“

Today, in relatively safe and calm Lviv (though no place in Ukraine is truly safe now), I was drinking a coffee in a café. I was thinking how difficult it is to compare my life during peace (when I could just plan things, when I knew what to be ready for, when I could just go out into the street) with this new wartime experience (when I walk in the street and hear jet fighters overhead). It is very difficult to accept that this is the new reality of our lives. It is very difficult to make sense of it in your head. Everything is divided into before the war and after the war.

This war reality is taking more and more space within us. Only sometimes it breaks through: spring has begun, the apricot trees are blooming, the street I’m walking down has beautiful buildings, this food is very tasty, we are not talking about the war…

“It is very difficult to accept that this is the new reality of our lives. It is very difficult to make sense of it in your head. Everything is divided into before the war and after the war.“

Sometimes, when I work, I feel like crying. My colleagues are members of the local human rights organisation in Mariupol. They have not been in touch for about a month now. I ask myself if they are alive.

My father is staying in Kyiv, just like my sister and brother. Thank God, they have not been injured. I decided to go to Lviv knowing that they were staying in Kyiv. I suggested that we go all together – they refused, and I left. This is one of the decisions that each of us has to make during the war. I never intended to make decisions with consequences of this magnitude. I don’t want to think that I may just never see them again. If I could choose, of course I would rather not have this experience, not make these decisions or go through this ordeal.

“When it’s all over and we win, I will breathe a sigh of relief and I will say — yes, we’ve made it. Everyone fighting for freedom in Ukraine, and everyone who is supporting us from the outside.“

When it’s all over and we win, I will breathe a sigh of relief and I will say — yes, we’ve made it. Everyone fighting for freedom in Ukraine, and everyone who is supporting us from the outside. Everyone who publishes the truth about this war. We will all win, because we stand for the light and the truth. And I promise, we will all feel like heroes – because we already are.

For resources and ways on how you can help people in Ukraine, visit our page here.