Strengthening Communication Skills Through the “Navigating Difficult Health Conversations” Workshop

During the Critical Health Literacy project, implemented under the Erasmus+ Youth Workers Mobility programme (Project Code: 2025-3-AT01-KA153-YOU-000370372) between 17–24 March 2026, participants took part in an engaging workshop titled “Navigating Difficult Health Conversations.” The session focused on one of the most important yet often challenging aspects of youth work: communicating effectively with young people about sensitive health-related topics.

The project brought together youth workers from six partner organizations: FI Gesundheits- und Sportverein (Austria), Gənclər Azad Sahibkarlıq Fəaliyyətində İctimai Birliyi (Azerbaijan), Debreceni Sport és Kulturális Központ (Hungary), Aktif Gençlik Platformu (Türkiye), Nuvoloq (Georgia), and S.C CYBERWARE CLOUD S.R.L (Romania). Through a variety of non-formal education activities, participants explored innovative approaches to strengthening health literacy and supporting young people in making informed decisions about their well-being.

The “Navigating Difficult Health Conversations” workshop addressed a reality that many youth workers encounter in their daily practice. Young people often seek guidance on sensitive health issues, ranging from body image concerns and misinformation found online to unhealthy habits and emotional well-being challenges. While youth workers play an important supportive role, these conversations can be complex and require strong communication skills, empathy, and professional awareness.

To begin the session, participants reflected on difficult health-related conversations they had experienced or expected to face while working with young people. Through a collaborative process, the group identified a range of realistic scenarios that frequently arise in youth work settings. These included situations involving body image concerns influenced by social media, young people promoting questionable health trends, requests for advice beyond a youth worker’s professional expertise, and conversations that might reveal signs of unhealthy behaviors or potential eating disorders.

After selecting several relevant scenarios, participants moved into small international groups where they engaged in role-playing exercises. Each participant had the opportunity to step into the role of either a youth worker or a young person facing a particular challenge. Through these simulations, participants practiced responding to sensitive situations in a supportive, respectful, and professional manner.

The role-playing activities created a safe environment where participants could test different communication approaches, improve their confidence, and learn from one another's experiences. By actively engaging in realistic situations, youth workers were able to explore how to respond effectively while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.

Following the practical exercises, participants came together for a structured group discussion and reflection session. They analyzed the communication strategies used during the role plays and explored questions such as what made certain responses effective, how empathy could be demonstrated more clearly, and how active listening skills could be strengthened. The discussions encouraged participants to critically reflect on their own approaches while learning from the experiences and perspectives of their peers.

A key focus of the workshop was helping youth workers balance empathy with critical thinking. Participants examined how they could support young people without reinforcing misinformation, and how they could guide them toward reliable sources of information or professional support when necessary. The session also emphasized the importance of recognizing the limits of a youth worker’s role and knowing when referrals to healthcare professionals may be appropriate.

The importance of this workshop extends beyond individual communication skills. In today's information-rich environment, young people are frequently exposed to conflicting health messages through social media, influencers, online forums, and digital platforms. As a result, youth workers are increasingly called upon to help young people navigate uncertainty, evaluate information critically, and make informed decisions regarding their health and well-being.

Within the broader framework of the Critical Health Literacy project, this activity played a crucial role in strengthening participants’ practical competencies. While health literacy is often associated with accessing and understanding information, effective communication is equally essential. Youth workers must be able to discuss sensitive topics in ways that build trust, encourage reflection, and empower young people to think critically about the information they encounter.

Through role-playing, peer learning, facilitated discussions, and reflective practice, participants developed valuable tools that they can apply in their daily work. The workshop not only increased their confidence in handling challenging conversations but also reinforced the project's overall goal of promoting informed, responsible, and health-conscious communities.

By the end of the session, participants left with a deeper understanding of how meaningful communication can contribute to young people's well-being and how youth workers can serve as trusted guides in an increasingly complex health information landscape.