Acting for Students’ Mental Health Beyond Borders: An Insight into the Ambition of Nightline Europe’s Co-Presidents to Build a Long-Lasting Network
A growing international network for student mental health
Officially launched in October 2023, Nightline Europe is currently composed of 36 member organisations in 6 countries: Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Electing a Board: a milestone for the network
Since October 2023, Nightline Europe has been hosted by Nightline France. The Head of the International Team at Nightline France has served as Coordinator of Nightline Europe, guiding its growth and spearheading projects such as the Mental Health Report “Learning the Lessons: Student Mental Health in Europe 2023–4.”
In February 2025, two delegates per country were appointed to form the Executive Council, ensuring representation and accountability. The Council then elected the Executive Board for a renewable two-year term, composed of two co-Presidents, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.
These roles represent the diversity of countries in the network. The current co-Presidents are Eve (Nightline London, UK) and Audran (Nightline Paris, France), supported by Vice-President Jonas (Nightline Dresden, Germany), Secretary Kai (Nightline Glasgow, UK - Scotland), and Treasurer Lino (Nightline Graz, Austria).
The Board meets every one to two weeks and stays in close contact online.
Eve and Audran humorously noted that time differences often complicate scheduling. Still, they view this multicultural collaboration as a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, develop skills, and work toward a shared vision for improving student mental health support across Europe.
Shared experience, shared mission
Both co-Presidents began their journey as Nightline volunteers during their studies.
Eve has coordinated Nightline London for three years, having previously held the same role at Nightline Cambridge, where she studied psychology. Her passion for volunteering didn’t end with graduation: she joined Nightline Europe in December 2023 and has remained deeply involved in its development.
Audran, involved in several student organisations during his academic journey, joined Nightline Paris two years ago as a listening volunteer. He later served on the Nightline France Board and became a delegate to Nightline Europe, which has since become his primary focus.
Initially planning to run individually, Eve and Audran chose to stand together as co-Presidents.
As the roles are entirely voluntary, sharing the presidency is both a supportive choice and a strategic one. It allows the network to stay dynamic and resilient.
Together with the Board, they’ve already outlined their top priorities: increasing visibility and recognition at the European level, and guiding Nightline Europe’s transition into a fully independent legal and financial structure.
Strengthening student mental health support through collective action
The Executive Board is committed to developing new initiatives and supporting both current and future Nightlines in their mission to improve student well-being across borders.
To achieve this, various task forces have been formed by volunteers to focus on knowledge-sharing and peer support. One key project is the development of a Starter Kit, designed to provide clear tools, resources, and guidance for students who wish to launch a Nightline in their area—one of Eve and Audran’s top priorities.
This collaborative approach also aligns with Nightline Europe’s goal to foster meaningful connections between volunteers and address the stark disparities in mental health support across Europe. In some countries, services are still scarce or nonexistent—something the network aims to change.
The Mental Health Report "Learning the Lessons: Student Mental Health in Europe 2023–4", released in February 2025, is one example of the network’s growing influence. The report not only raises awareness among policymakers and universities but also outlines concrete steps for action.
Eve emphasized the network’s potential in shaping mental health policy:
Looking ahead: a united vision for the future
The Nightline model has helped break stigma and support thousands of students. With the appointment of co-Presidents and a governing board, Nightline Europe is building a sustainable, structured network that aims to ensure long-term impact on student mental health support in Europe.
