The Olena Zelenska Foundation Team Visited Headspace Oslo to Exchange Experiences With Norwegian Colleagues
October 22, 2025
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On October 22, the Olena Zelenska Foundation team visited one of the Headspace youth spaces in Oslo (Norway) as part of the “12-21” project. The visit aimed to study psychosocial support practices for youth and exchange experiences with partners developing mental health services for adolescents and young people for many years.
Psychosocial support for young people is one of the Foundation’s key areas of activity. In this context, the Foundation is preparing to launch a new project—a network of “12-21” youth spaces for psychosocial support—in Ukraine. This initiative will help create a culture of caring for mental health in Ukraine so that it becomes a regular part of life, as natural as studying, communicating, or sporting.
The creation of the Ukrainian network was based on and inspired by the operation of the Danish Headspace centers, which the First Lady first visited in April 2024. The Foundation team was imbued with their philosophy—not waiting for young people to ask for help but creating places where they want to come on their own. This idea was the basis of the initiative to create “12–21” youth spaces in Ukraine.
For making the “12–21” model as efficient as possible, the Foundation team studies international experience and learns how similar initiatives work worldwide. The visit to Norway was an essential step in this regard.
During the meeting with the Headspace Oslo team, the Ukrainian delegation sought answers to practical questions: what is the Headspace model, whether any difficulties existed during its launch, how they formed a team of specialists and volunteers, what services they provide to young people, and how their accessibility and confidentiality are guaranteed.
Special attention was paid to the involvement of the youth who do not seek help directly but need support. We discussed interactions with parents, the ways to deal with stigma, and the role of young people in decision-making in the space. We learned how the team evaluates the results of its work and cooperates with local authorities.
Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, emphasized that the Headspace model is primarily about trust and acceptance. These are not doctors’ offices or formal consulting. Young people come to these places because they know they will be understood, listened to, and supported.
“The war overlaps with the difficult period of Ukrainian adolescents’ growing up. Therefore, we do not copy ready-made international solutions, but create our model, adapted to the Ukrainian experience, our culture, and the realities of young people’s lives,” Olena Zelenska notes.
The Foundation takes the Headspace approach and transforms it for the Ukrainian context. At the same time, the main idea remains: every young person should have a space where they can be natural.
The Headspace experience will help develop the “12–21” youth spaces being established now in five pilot regions of Ukraine, supported by the Olena Zelenska Foundation.
For reference:
Headspace is a national initiative to support young people’s mental health. The concept originates from Australia and has operated successfully in Denmark for over 10 years. The program aims at early intervention and prevention of mental disorders among young people aged 12–25. The main goal is to help here and now, before problems become serious.
Headspace creates safe spaces for conversations, communication, shared activities, and the development of emotional resilience skills. Youth can apply without a referral, free of charge, in a drop-in format, or by appointment. If professional help is required, Headspace provides a quick referral to appropriate services.
Tom Guldberg leads Headspace Norway. Mental Helse implements the initiative in partnership with state, municipal, and community structures.
More than 11,000 people visited Norwegian Headspace centers in 2024, which confirms the significant demand among young people for such initiatives. According to participants, the main thing is that they are listened to, understood, and have time for a sincere conversation.
