“Through RAIN-how to BE emotionally intelligent in support of young people”

This training course provides an opportunity to explore mental health education in youth work settings, ensuring that youth workers can create safe, supportive, and empowering environments for young people’s well-being.

Through a combination of non-formal education methods and experiential learning, this training introduces participants to emotional intelligence, self-regulation techniques, and conflict management skills. The course will explore the RAIN model (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture) as a practical tool for navigating emotions such as sadness, fear, anger, joy, and happiness, as well as emotional-body-cognitive regulation techniques that help young people manage emotions effectively.

This training goes beyond traditional learning by engaging participants in interactive exercises, discussions, and hands-on activities that enhance their ability to practice empathy, build trustful relationships with young people, and design impactful mental health programs.

The training course is developed in line with Youth Goal 5: Mental Health & Wellbeing and contributes to:

• Providing all professionals working with young people as well as family and friends with quality mental health first aid training.
• Focus on prevention measures that ensure young people are equipped with the knowledge and the skills required for better mental wellbeing.

The training course will be based on non-formal education methods and experiential learning approaches. The program is designed to provide participants with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to understand emotional intelligence, mental health education, and social skills development in youth work.

The first days of the training are dedicated to building a safe learning space, fostering trust among participants, and establishing the learning alliance. These introductory sessions will include activities focusing on emotional literacy, vulnerability, and self-awareness, ensuring that participants feel comfortable and engaged. As the training progresses, participants will explore mental health education strategies, including the RAIN (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture) model to navigate emotions such as sadness, fear, anger, joy, and happiness. They will also learn about emotional-body-cognitive regulation techniques, which are essential for supporting young people in managing emotions effectively.

In the later stages of the training, participants will work on conflict management and empathy-building activities, applying experiential learning methods to reflect on their personal growth and professional application of mental health education. On the final day, participants will work in teams to design mental health-focused workshops, which they can later implement in their local communities. The course will conclude with a structured reflection process, evaluating learning outcomes, and recognizing participants' achievements through the YOUTHPASS ceremony.

Objectives:

• to enable understanding of the positive approach to mental health;
• to understand youth work settings and non-formal education as nurturing environments for a positive approach to young people’s mental health;
• to explore different realities of young people related to offering programmes for mental health promotion ;
• to encourage and support the personal development of emotional self-awareness and self-regulation as the basis for emotional and social support of young people’s growth; 
• to improve the readiness of youth workers to practise empathy in their work and learn how to raise the empathic skills of young people;
• to raise the ability of youth workers how to design a supportive and encouraging learning environment and trustful relationships with a young person; 
• to explore personal boundaries when dealing with emotions and well-being.