One of our SAFE-SORRY members will be attending the 2026 conference of the European Association for Research on Adolescence (EARA), hosted in Utrecht. On Wednesday 19th August, Stijn Van Petegem will chair a symposium entitled “Coming of Age in a World in Polycrisis”, focusing on how current global challenges shape youth development and mental health.

During the symposium, he will present a study conducted in Belgium, exploring how macro-threat perceptions are associated with youth mental health and identity development.

The findings suggest that young people’s worries about major societal challenges, such as climate change, economic uncertainty, or geopolitical tensions, are linked to poorer mental health and greater uncertainty about their identity. The study also highlighted individual differences, showing that while some young people report relatively few concerns about societal issues, others feel concerned by a broad range of societal threats. Overall, these results stress how it is important to consider the broader societal context for understanding youth mental health and development.

We hope to see you there!