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Page | 15 www.boostress.eu professionals and the discussion with the Cypriot focus groups’ members. In relation to the BooStress training package format, Cypriot participants asked for user-friendly online courses with music in the background and images, photos and interactive videos included; as well as a layout like well-known and frequently used social media for “maximum user-friendliness”. Moreover, respondents stated that educational games and quizzes could make the package more attractive to users and thus help them to deal with stress in a more efficient and pleasant way. A blended learning programme is the preferred format for training materials and resources, however providing training fully online were also popular, especially among those who have limited time to give to attending training. It was also recommended that the BooStress modules are kept short, simple and free of technical and scientific terms, well- structured and follow modern educational and instructional design principles (e.g. role-play, real work- based scenarios, etc.). Furthermore, it was suggested that the modules are available for smartphones through an application and ideally downloadable so that it can be viewed or read off-line at a later stage if needed. Lastly, including visuals and audio, such as a narrator, was seen as necessary for those young employees with hearing and visual impairments. When it comes to the content of the modules, participants asked for the development of skills that will allow them to maintain good working relations with their colleagues, partners, clients, employers, etc., as well as the development of organisational, time management and general stress management skills, including the skill to control stress and learn how to live with stress in a positive way. Young professionals prefer to receive practical guidelines and advice and learn specific techniques that will help them to deal with work-related stress. Lastly, discussion groups in the form of “blind” chat rooms through which participants will be able to share their thoughts, experiences and feelings with their peers were also highlighted by the Cypriot focus group members; however, this is out of the scope of this project. Overall, participants requested knowledge and skills that will increase their self-esteem at work and give them clear role and existence which will finally help them to manage stress at work. Research activities have shown that, on the one hand, young professionals in Cyprus suffer from increased work-related stress and they feel that they do not receive any substantial support by their employers or colleagues; and on the other hand, that trainers and stakeholders (as well as young professionals) are unaware of ICT tools and training programmes on how to deal with stress –apart from a few face-to-face seminars offered by private universities. In addition, employees’ lack of time and resources prevent them from attending such training and employers are unwilling to commit their own time and resources to allow their employees to attend training, as they consider the development of stress management skills to be of secondary importance. The research conducted at national level in Cyprus has also shown some important gaps in the provision of training on stress management as well as the lack of certain skills among young professionals that will help them to deal efficiently with stress. While the Republic of Cyprus laws (on Occupational Safety and Health Laws, 1996 to 2011, and the Occupational Safety and Health at Work Regulations, 2002) have been harmonized with the EU Directive 89/391/EEC, insufficient measures have been adopted to substantially help young professionals, and all employees, to work in a healthy, safe and stress-free environment. Empirical Research Findings from Ireland The focus group sessions in Ireland were conducted with five young employees aged from 26 to 33 years. Focus group participants worked in a range of different areas; 1 was a retail assistant, 1 a photographer, 1 an administrator, 1 a community development worker and the final participant was a project manager. All five respondents were female, and they all stated that they experience stress to varying degrees in their current jobs. These respondents used a variety of coping strategies to help to