After many years of bullying in primary school, Stephanie was overwhelmed with anxiety.  

‘I had long felt completely alone in the world, had no one to talk to about my problems, and I felt like I was stuck in life,’ Stephanie, who is now 28, explains. ‘I was just at home trying to get my anxiety under control.’ 

In 2019, Stephanie, from Holbæk in Denmark, learned about a project designed especially for people like her. Supported by the European Social Fund (ESF), Courage for Education uses a holistic approach to help young people who are struggling with anxiety and/or suffer from depression, schizophrenia, autism or ADHD to find education or work.  

To date, more than 140 young people have benefited from the project. Those who join the project have usually been out of education or employment for several years, but Courage for Education allows them to participate in group courses, have individual conversations with mentors, receive training in social and professional skills, and try out different types of education or work. Many report that the project has helped them manage mood swings and build their self-confidence. 

Although Stephanie had been horrified at the thought of having to participate in group work, a psychotherapist who helped during her school years motivated her to take part. ‘[…] the group helped me a lot. I made good friends, we could talk about everything, and I did not feel wrong or different, as I had always done. I also received help to deal with my anxiety, and the whole process was arranged as a complete package for me and my problems.'

Today, Stephanie is studying animal science at the University of Copenhagen and, although she still has bad days, she now has the tools to deal with challenges. ‘I have become better at dealing with anxiety and processing it so that I can move on. Instead, I think about the days when I have done really well, reflect on it a bit and stick to the positive thoughts.’