As part of the RESILIENT EUROPE project, the Institute of Music and Creative Industries hosted the first in a series of workshops aimed at strengthening psychological resilience among young people. The workshop was led by psychologist and psychotherapist Marija Mikulić, who guided participants through essential psychological concepts such as stress, trauma, and crisis.

The session began by addressing the broader social and cultural context influencing mental health, including the pressures of Western ideals around success and happiness, rapid technological advancement, and the growing prevalence of loneliness. Mikulić emphasized how these factors can impact young individuals’ emotional well-being and sense of self.
Participants explored the definitions and differences between stress, trauma, and crisis, learning how these experiences manifest emotionally, cognitively, physically, and behaviorally. A key takeaway was that individuals perceive and process stressful events differently, and this personal interpretation often plays a more significant role in stress response than the event itself.

Through interactive exercises, attendees identified personal stressors and developed step-by-step coping strategies. The workshop promoted self-reflection, awareness of internal experiences, and the importance of supportive relationships in building resilience.The session concluded by highlighting gratitude, self-awareness, and the role of healthy interpersonal connections in maintaining mental health.