On June 26, 2025, IASIS NGO organized a reflection roundtable at its Centro location in Athens, bringing together 10 young professionals—including career counselors, psychologists, social workers, and administrative staff aged 25–29. The session aimed to shed light on the growing challenges faced by youth workers, particularly around workload, emotional strain, and institutional demands.
A key outcome of the discussion was the recognition of widespread burnout among participants, caused largely by unclear job roles, excessive performance expectations, and limited organizational backing. The group emphasized the urgent need for clearer job descriptions, better work-life balance policies, and structured peer support systems to foster a more sustainable and healthy working environment in the youth sector.
Building on these reflections, IASIS also conducted two focus groups on July 9, 2025, at the Work Day Centre in Thessaloniki. These sessions involved 18 professionals—psychologists, youth workers, and caregivers—who delved deeper into the themes of emotional resilience and organizational support.
Participants openly shared their experiences of emotional spillover from work into personal life. Many relied on coping mechanisms such as therapy, mindfulness practices, and peer dialogue to maintain their mental health. While some organizations had introduced wellness measures like gym access, the consensus was that more structured and preventive mental health support is needed. Suggestions included regular well-being check-ins and institutional strategies focused on long-term emotional sustainability rather than short-term crisis management.
These discussions underscored a clear message: youth workers are deeply committed to their roles but need meaningful, systemic support to continue their work without sacrificing their own well-being. IASIS remains dedicated to fostering these much-needed conversations and advocating for mental health and resilience-building within the youth work sector.
