The City of Luxembourg is taking a significant step towards mental health awareness by launching the 'Challenge 500' training programme, aiming to educate and certify 500 mental health first-aiders across the Grand Duchy for free.

The City of Luxembourg is actively promoting mental health awareness in the context of the fourth edition of Mental Health Weeks, scheduled from 7–20 October. As part of this initiative, the municipality is participating in the 'Challenge 500', an ambitious programme aimed at training 500 mental health first responders across the Grand Duchy.

This project, initiated by the Information and Prevention Centre of the Luxembourg League for Mental Health, aims to provide participants with essential knowledge about mental disorders. It also seeks to equip them with the tools needed to recognise early signs of mental health issues, approach affected individuals without judgement, and offer first aid to those experiencing psychological problems or crises.

The courses, which are free of charge, will be held at Cercle Cité at Place d'Armes and will be divided into two distinct modules: one focused on mental disorders in adults and the other on the particularities of mental disorders in adolescents. The sessions will be conducted in four modules of three hours for adults, available in Luxembourgish, German, and French, and three and a half hours for adolescents, only taught in French. The dates for the courses are set for 7, 9, 14, and 18 October, with classes starting at 6.30pm.

Registrations for these free training sessions are open until 16 September. Interested individuals can register via the form available on actionssociales.vdl.lu.