Growing up in precarity is hard, especially when the adults around you face their own mental health challenges. Let’s Talk about Children is a short, evidence-based, and child-centred psychosocial intervention to break the cycle of mental health problems, particularly among children in vulnerable situations. Marcel Marchetti, from Mental Health Europe, shares how it’s working in Europe today
Mental health challenges among children and adolescents in Europe have risen sharply, with growing numbers of young people seeking support. This surge has put considerable strain on mental health services, which often struggle to meet the escalating need, particularly from those in vulnerable settings or with complex family situations.
Additionally, mental health services for adults often do not address the needs of the children and families of service users, creating a gap in support that can significantly impact young people’s well-being. Research demonstrates the profound impact of parental mental health on children’s emotional and developmental outcomes, especially when families lack adequate psychosocial support.
At the same time, several studies indicate that early intervention, family-focused care, and preventive measures can significantly improve resilience and mental health outcomes in children, reducing the likelihood of intergenerational transmission of mental health problems and fostering healthier family dynamics. Addressing these needs holistically is critical for supporting the next generation’s mental health, academic success, and social development.
The Let’s Talk about Children intervention
The Let’s Talk about Children intervention focuses on making a child ́s everyday life as good as possible at home, in early childhood education, in school and leisure environments (so-called development environments), considering the child ́s specific needs and life situations.
The final objective is to better understand and respond to the psychosocial needs of children by promoting positive parenting and family life in families in vulnerable situations and by strengthening home-school collaboration with the implementation of the LTC method in primary and secondary school settings. The LTC method focuses on identifying the strengths and vulnerabilities of the child and their family and building a concrete action plan to support their psychosocial wellbeing by involving all the professional figures involved in the child’s life.
The three-year EU project Let’s Talk About Children, named after the intervention, is now implementing the LTC approach in ten European countries.
How does the Let’s Talk About Children work in practice? The story of G.
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) has been doing an exemplary job with children in Greece by finding solutions through the collaboration of children, parents and teachers. G., a 4th-grade student with a younger brother and sister, has faced learning challenges since beginning school.
He repeated 1st grade due to significant difficulties, which persist even now, yet he has never undergone a formal assessment. G. was diagnosed with a congenital hearing problem – a neurosensory condition – when he was just two years old, and by age three, he had his first surgery, though he was not yet speaking. Now, he uses a hearing aid in his right ear, but his hearing remains impaired, complicating his learning. Although G.’s mother reports helping him with schoolwork, his teacher notes that he rarely arrives prepared. Assessments of the family environment revealed a degree of social isolation; the children do not attend extracurricular activities or school trips, instead spending most of their free time at home on their tablets.
Recognising the complexity of G.’s situation, the team at NKUA met with his teacher to discuss potential interventions. They suggested the mother meet with the school psychologist to better understand G.’s needs and strengths. After two meetings with the mother and a collaborative discussion with both her and G.’s teacher, they developed a realistic action plan to address G.’s challenges and help him thrive academically and socially.
To support G.’s learning, the school arranged for a teacher to work with him twice a week. They also suggested that on alternate days, a classmate could act as a peer helper, giving G. both academic support and a sense of inclusion. Furthermore, the team connected the family with a local association for the deaf and hard of hearing, helping them meet other families with similar experiences. This connection could show G. that he is not alone in his challenges and encourage a sense of community for both him and his family.
Given G.’s fondness for social interactions, the team encouraged his family to organise park outings with his classmates, fostering friendships outside of school. They also learned that G. loves football but had been discouraged by his mother due to his hearing challenges. The school head, taking the initiative, reached out to a local football club that welcomed G., provided he had the necessary health clearance. The school team encouraged the mother to enrol him, as playing a sport could greatly benefit his social development and self-confidence.
While the school team has laid out supportive measures, not all of these plans have been implemented by the family. G. still spends most of his free time at home and does not participate in extracurricular activities. This points out the importance of collaboration between LTC practitioners, teachers, and parents, with the ultimate goal of supporting the child’s needs and wellbeing.
G. is only one of the many children helped by the LTC method. His story has yet to find its happy ending, but the NKUA team will not stop until G. is happy and confident among his peers.
The future of the LTC method in Europe
With just over a year remaining, the participating countries in the Let’s Talk About Children project are already planning for the future, focusing on sustainability and scalability to ensure ongoing support for children in vulnerable situations. This strategy will allow the initiative’s child-centered, family-focused approach to extend its impact well beyond the project’s end, embedding a lasting, supportive structure for children facing psychosocial challenges.
Approaches like LTC are essential in today’s mental health landscape, where the complexity of children’s needs demands a holistic approach. By promoting family involvement and addressing children’s psychosocial needs in their everyday environments, initiatives like Let’s Talk About Children support the development of healthier societies, demonstrating the power of a preventive, psychosocial approach to mental health. With this focus on fostering resilience and building supportive family and community networks, LTC stands as a model for holistic child mental health initiatives across Europe and beyond.
Bring the LTC method to your community and support the psychosocial health of future generations. Join us in shaping a healthier, more resilient future for children and families across Europe.
