MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY PARTY

Adolescent mental health has become one of the defining challenges of our time. As more young people turn to social media for information and support, they are frequently exposed to misleading or even harmful content. Reliable, evidence-based information is urgently neededbut to reach todays youth, science communication must adapt to their realities, languages, and digital worlds. The Mental Health Literacy PART-Y (participating youth) project, led by Dr. Konicar of the ABC BRAIN LAB, breaks new ground by turning adolescents from passive recipients of information into active contributors to research. Together with scientists, young participants explore how their generation understands mental health and where gaps in knowledge exist. In doing so, they learn to think critically, evaluate information sources, and experience science as a collaborative and empowering process. At the heart of the project is the co-creation of a Mental Health Literacy (MHL) questionnaire designed by and for adolescents. In interactive World Coffeehouse workshops, participants discuss key topics and shape questions that reflect their perspectives and lived experiences. The resulting tool captures not only what young people know about mental health but also how social media influences their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. By disseminating the questionnaire among peers, participants become ambassadors for mental health awareness and evidence-based thinking. The project fills a critical gap in current research and practice. Most existing MHL studies focus on adult or clinical populations, overlooking the perspectives of healthy adolescents and the digital spaces they inhabit. By centering youth voices and incorporating the complex role of social mediaas both a risk factor and a potential resourcethis initiative offers a uniquely comprehensive and contemporary view of adolescent mental health. Beyond its scientific innovation, the project demonstrates how early engagement with research can strengthen trust in science and foster active participation in democratic societies. It embodies a new vision of inclusive, participatory scienceone that listens to young people, values their insights, and equips them to navigate the mental health challenges of the digital age with confidence and curiosity.