Long-term unemployment is often more than a break from work. It can affect self-confidence, motivation, and emotional well-being, especially during periods of active job searching. These emotional challenges are a common but often less visible part of the unemployment experience.

EU-MINDS was created to better understand these challenges and to respond to them in a practical and accessible way. By bringing together research, professional experience, and real-life perspectives, the initiative focuses on the psychosocial aspects of unemployment and how they can be addressed during the employment guidance process.

What EU-MINDS offers
 

For people experiencing unemployment, EU-MINDS offers support that helps to:

• better understand the emotional impact of unemployment
• explore coping strategies and emotional regulation
• support mental health and wellbeing during the job-search process

For professionals working in employment guidance, EU-MINDS offers:

• insights into psychosocial challenges linked to unemployment
• practical tools for everyday practice
• support for integrating mental health and wellbeing into guidance work

How EU-MINDS works
 

EU-MINDS brings together different forms of knowledge to support mental health and emotional wellbeing during long-term unemployment:

• research to explore psychosocial challenges related to unemployment
• development of a guide for employment guidance professionals
• creation of an online platform with accessible learning materials and tools

Who is behind EU-MINDS
 

EU-MINDS is implemented through a partnership of organisations from Greece, Hungary, Portugal, and Spain working in the fields of employment guidance, adult education, and mental health. By combining diverse professional backgrounds and perspectives, the partnership addresses shared challenges related to long-term unemployment across Europe.