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1. National strategy(ies)

2. Improving the mental health of young people

National strategy(ies)

There is no national strategy on mental health. A recommendation report on the setup of a national strategy on mental health for children and young people defines future needs and challenges for a youth-centred mental health policy (CRP-Santé & MS, 2010), but it has not been adopted and implemented yet.

Improving the mental health of young people

In the field of suicide prevention, the national plan for the prevention of suicide for Luxembourg 2015-2019 (Plan national de prévention du suicide pour le Luxembourg 2015-2019) forms the national strategy. It addresses the entire population in their different life periods (children, adolescents, adults, elderly people, etc.) and life environments (private or professional).

The national plan was drafted and published by the ministry of Health and the Centre of Information and Prevention. The drafting of the plan was supervised by an interministerial working group and different thematic working groups.

The national plan defines six priority fields of action:

1. Improving the understanding of suicidal problems in Luxembourg
2. Improving individuals' resilience and their ability to self-help
3. Improving social resources, collective resilience and the ability to prevent suicide
4. Adopting a coordinated approach to suicide prevention
5. Providing targeted suicide prevention activities
6. Establish quality standards and standards for suicide prevention.

The scheme identifies five objectives, which are to strengthen:

1. Individuals, families and the community
2. Individual and collective resilience following traumatic events
3. The community's ability to identify needs for care
4. The collective and individual ability to respond promptly and appropriately to the distress of persons
5. The coordination between field actors, in order to create a smooth and safe transition for the suffering person.

The website www.prevention-suicide.lu, run by the Centre of Intervention and Prevention, provides information to suicidal persons, their social environment and professionals. The website offers information on available emergency services, consultation services, helplines and self-help groups.

The 2020-2024 national action plan on drugs and drugs addiction (Stratégie nationale en matière d’addictions et plan d’action gouvernemental 2020–2024 en matière de drogues d’acquisition illicite et de leurs corollaires) is an important strategic document which aims at preventing health risks and improving young people's mental health (see: National strateg(y)ies).
The interministerial initiative BEE SECURE is in charge of raising awareness about the risks posed by new media. BEE SECURE is an important offer that aims at preventing abuse of new media, thereby also improving young people's mental health (see: 6.8 Media literacy and safe use of new media).
The Ministry of Equal Opportunities has launched specific campaigns to raise awareness of gender equality issues of young people between the ages of 12 and 20 years. The campaigns include several competitions focused on different media, images, texts, videos or music.
The Youth Centre Marienthal operated by the National Youth Service offers activities addressing the well-being of young people. Its activities include primary prevention activities (such as team-building courses) and freestyle activities for interested groups (e.g. school classes).