For education
Making mental health a topic of conversation at school isn’t always easy. After all, how do you start talking about what’s going on without it immediately feeling heavy or clinical?
@ease helps schools with this. We offer workshops for students, information sessions for parents and teachers, and an accessible place where young people can go whenever they feel the need for a chat.
Our young volunteers open up the conversation about topics like insecurity, performance pressure, loneliness, bullying, and problems at home in a way that resonates with young people. Not preachy or heavy, but open and relatable.
Worried about a student?
As a mentor, teacher, or care coordinator, you sometimes notice that a student isn’t feeling their best. But professional help isn’t always necessary. And for some young people, that step still feels much too big.
At @ease, young people aged 12 to 25 can talk to trained peer-listeners for free, without an appointment, and in confidence. They listen without judgment and help a young person share what’s on their mind.
If a conversation shows that more support is needed, we work together with the young person to think about a suitable next step.
You can refer a student as soon as you notice that they are dealing with something and could use someone to listen. Young people are welcome with both small and big concerns, even if they are already receiving support or are on a waiting list.
Young people are welcome to talk about anything that is on their mind, from small worries to deep sadness. This can include loneliness, problems at home, loss, and low mood, as well as eating problems, self-harm, or thoughts of suicide. Even if a young person isn’t sure exactly what they are struggling with, a conversation at @ease can help.
No, quite the opposite. Many young people wait a long time before talking about things. At @ease, problems don’t have to get worse first; young people can come in even with early-stage concerns.
Workshops on mental health
An @ease workshop is an accessible way to open up the conversation about mental health in the classroom. Our young volunteers are close to students’ own experiences and perspectives. This often leads to open conversations about the things young people are dealing with.
Schools can choose from 3 themes:
Small struggles, big problems
When is something just a temporary setback and when does it become something more? Students talk about what they can do themselves when things get tough and when it’s helpful to seek support.
How can I be there for others?
What do you do when you notice a friend, classmate, or someone else isn’t feeling their best? Students learn how to listen, offer support, and when it’s right to involve someone else.
Boost your brain
How do you take good care of yourself and your mental health? Students reflect on what helps them feel better and how to strengthen their mental resilience.
Topics such as stress, performance pressure, fear of failure, loneliness, bullying, low mood, insecurity, and problems at home may be discussed. Above all, we let students experience that talking about how you’re doing is completely normal and that you don’t have to face it alone.
We show students that they’re not alone and where they can turn if they need someone to listen.
Our guest lessons are suitable for secondary schools, vocational education (MBO), universities of applied sciences (HBO), and universities in the Netherlands – all educational institutions where young people aged 12 to 25 study.
Our guest lessons are aimed at young people in secondary education, vocational education (MBO), and other educational institutions for young people aged approximately 12 to 25. We tailor the content to the age and experiences of each group.
We tailor the duration of the guest lesson to the school’s capabilities. We are happy to help devise a format that fits within the curriculum.
Yes. We regularly participate in themed weeks, project days, or other activities focused on mental health, well-being, or citizenship. We are happy to help shape a suitable program.
We primarily provide guest lessons at schools in the cities in the Netherlands where @ease is active. Our trained volunteers live nearby, which allows us to organize the guest lessons effectively. Would you like to request a workshop or guest lesson? Please fill out the contact form and choose the location nearest to you. Is there no @ease location in your area? Then please email info@ease.nl. We’d be happy to look into the possibilities.
Information for parents and teachers
We also provide presentations on youth mental health for parents and education professionals.
We discuss, among other things:
- the adolescent brain
- signs of mental health issues
- why young people sometimes don’t dare to ask for help
- how you can play a supportive role as an adult
In this way, we provide practical tools for engaging in conversation with young people.
Why do schools refer to @ease?
Young people can talk to trained peer listeners at @ease—for free, confidentially, and without an appointment. No referral is needed, and young people who are already receiving help or are on a waiting list are also welcome.
Good to know:
- Free
- without an appointment
- confidential
- no referral needed
- no parental consent required
- no file
- also welcome if a young person is already receiving help or is on a waiting list
If further support is needed, we work with the young person to consider a suitable next step.
A peer listener is a trained young adult who volunteers with @ease. Many of them have personally experienced how important it can be to have someone to talk to. Because they are close to young people’s world and experiences, an open and trusting conversation often develops quickly.
No. Young people can visit @ease without a referral.
Yes. Young people who are already receiving support or are on a waiting list are also welcome at @ease. A conversation can offer support precisely during that period.
No. Conversations are confidential. Young people can come in on their own; they do not need permission, and no records are kept.
No. @ease is an accessible place for a conversation. If further support is needed, we work with the young person to determine an appropriate next step.
No. @ease is not a crisis service. In acute or life-threatening situations, appropriate crisis care must always be sought immediately.
Working together on mental health at school
Would you like to make mental health easier to talk about at your school? Or would you like to learn more about a guest lesson, presentation, or collaboration with @ease? We’d be happy to explore the possibilities with you.