Ambition: Mental well-being of youth

Mental well-being of youth

Improve mental health and resilience of children and adolescents

We aim to identify and create optimal conditions for a mentally resilient generation, to improve early detection of mental health using technology and to create early interventions and preventive solutions to improve resilience. For this project, we will foster close collaborations between science, youth (mental) healthcare, schools and policy makers.

Ongoing projects

Healthy Start Sprinter | Unmasked

Healthy Start Sprinter | Enhancing well-being and personal development for medical students

Healthy Start Sprinter | Touching Minds

Healthy Start Sprinter | Promoting a sociotechnical approach toward adolescent relationships and sexuality in the digital age

View all the projects of this ambition

Resources

Scientific Publications

MacSweeney, N., Toenders, Y.J. & Tamnes, C.K. Neuroimaging insights into adolescent depression risk and development. Mental Health 3, 772–779 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-025-00453-z [Link]
Toenders, Y. J., Crone, E., Muetzel, R., Achterberg, M., Bakkali, A., van den Bedem, N., Borkhuis, E., Figueroa, C., Van der Hallen, R., Harrewijn, A., Jansen, P., Schaap, J., Tempelaar, W., de Veld, D., & Remmerswaal, D. (2025). A Healthy Start: Een Mentaal Gezonde Basis voor de Huidige Generatie Jongeren.Jeugd in Ontwikkeling . https://doi.org/10.54447/JiO.19550 [Link]
Pre-print – Toenders, Y., Green, K., Brinke, L. t., Sweijen, S., van de Groep, S., Fakkel, M., … Crone, E. (2024, September 13). One size does not fit all: Resilient and recovering adolescent mood trajectories during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/a6tx2 [Link]

Media

Podcast – ReSearching a Healthy Start: Youth Mental Health and Well-being [Link]

Anita Harrewijn (EUR), Carolina Figuera (TUD), Daniëlle Remmerswaal (EUR), Eva Borkhuis (EUR), Eveline Crone (EUR), Michelle Achterberg (EUR), Mieke van der Bijl (TUD), Neeltje van den Bedem (NJI), Ruth van der Hallen (EUR), Ryan Muetzel (Erasmus MC), Wanda Tempelaar (Erasmus MC), Robin Smits (EUR), and Yara Toenders (EUR)

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