EASE in NYC: Swiss–U.S. Next Step Partnership
As part of the Swiss–U.S. Next Step Partnership, Switzerland and the United States are advancing a shared commitment to strengthening global workforce partnerships, including mental health through applied research, workforce development, and community-based innovation. This partnership emphasizes bi-lateral and practical exchange by connecting recent graduates to leading institutions and to initiatives like EASE to foster innovation in between the U.S. and Switzerland
The New School Center for Global Mental Health was selected as one of the pilot sites for this program and hosted a Swiss delegation from the Embassy of Switzerland and the Consulate General in New York. The visit provided an opportunity to share the Center’s work and to engage in a bi-national exchange focused on youth mental health. Discussions highlighted community-based initiatives such as the EASE (Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions) program, as well as the role of Swiss Next Step apprentices currently based in New York. The delegation met with faculty, staff, and the visiting Swiss Interns to learn more about how academic institutions, community organizations, and the NYC Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health are collaborating to address youth mental health needs through evidence-informed and locally grounded approaches.
Within this broader partnership, the Center for Global Mental Health has played a central role by hosting Swiss apprentices and graduate students in New York City. These placements are designed as immersive, hands-on learning experiences that allow participants to engage directly with community-based mental health initiatives, including EASE, which focuses on strengthening emotional skills and resilience among young people.
During their apprenticeships, participants contribute to program implementation while building professional skills relevant to public mental health systems. Their work includes supporting training and capacity-building activities, partnering with local implementation sites such as schools and community organizations, learning directly from community-based partners about local needs and implementation challenges, and contributing to the monitoring and evaluation of the EASE program to assess outcomes, feasibility, and opportunities for adaptation.
Through this experience, apprentices develop practical expertise in community partnership, program delivery, and applied evaluation. Upon returning to Switzerland, they will bring these skills back to their home institutions and professional settings. Drawing on their experience in New York City, they will explore opportunities to adapt and pilot EASE-informed approaches within the Swiss context in collaboration with local partners. This bidirectional exchange strengthens the capacity of both countries to address youth mental health needs and supports the long-term objectives of the Swiss–U.S. Next Step Partnership.
