A while ago, we were guests at the Media College Amsterdam, where we were surrounded by the creative energy of the students. In the radio studio, the daily radio show “MA Live” is produced by young people (except on Tuesdays). It was the perfect place to talk about @ease, because at our organisation, peers of these radio makers are also at the centre of everything we do.
Kristien, location manager at @ease Haarlem, and Tobias, location support staff at @ease Leiden, spoke with students at the Media College about the importance of having someone who listens, and how @ease can lower the threshold for asking for help.
A youth-proof place
How do you make sure young people feel comfortable talking about their mental health? According to Kristien, it all starts with a safe space. “We want young people to experience that it’s normal to talk about your mental health,” she explains. That’s why @ease deliberately chooses locations where young people already go, such as youth centres or sports clubs.
Tobias (21), who started as a volunteer and is now a location support worker in Leiden, recognizes this. He describes the @ease locations as living rooms. “It’s very low-threshold. You can walk in without an appointment, and you decide the pace and the topic yourself. Nothing is mandatory.”
Young people for young people
What makes @ease unique is the power of equality. Tobias studies psychology and notices that it works well when young people talk to other young people. “It creates a relaxed and comfortable conversation,” he says. “You’re talking to someone your own age who understands what you’re going through.”
At @ease, you often speak with two volunteers at the same time on site. Tobias says: “That keeps the conversation light. It feels less heavy than a one-on-one conversation.” For those for whom going to a physical location still feels like too big a step, there is always the anonymous chat, allowing you to open up from a place where you feel safe and comfortable.
Safety comes first
Behind the scenes, a lot of work goes into making those conversations as good as possible. As a location manager, Kristien focuses on supporting the team of volunteers. “Coaching volunteers gives me a lot of energy. Together, we look at how we can make the conversations even better,” she says.
Volunteers are never left alone. Everyone receives training in communication techniques, and a professional is always present for backup. “That gives both the young person and the volunteer a sense of security,” adds Tobias.
Every topic is open for discussion
Whether it concerns exam stress, heartbreak, or serious mental health issues: at @ease, every topic is open for discussion. The goal is simple: to ensure that you don’t keep walking around with your problems alone.
“Everyone deals with something. Talking about it makes it more bearable again,” says Tobias.
Listen to the interview
Are you curious about the full conversation in the studio? Kristien and Tobias talk in detail about how @ease works and why a listening ear is so important.
Listen to the Mediacollege interview with Tobias here:
Listen to the Mediacollege interview with Kristien here: