Mental health - recommendations from the Directorate of Health

Publications on mental health

-Automatic translation

Nordic co-operation on young people's mental health. A Cross-Nordic Mapping of Associative Factors to the Increase of Mental Distress Among Youth. Published 2022.
The first 1.000 days of the child in the Nordic countries. Mental health and well-being in the early years of life: Perspectives and recommendations. Published 2021. (Icelandic)
The first 1.000 days in the Nordic Countries: Policy recommendations. Published 2022.
The First 1.000 Days in the Nordic Countries: A Situation Analysis. Published 2021.
The First 1.000 Days in the Nordic Countries: Psychosocial Interventions and Psychological Tests – A Review of the Evidence. Published 2021.
Curriculum and an approach to promote positive behavior and social and emotional skills in Icelandic schools. Published 2020. (Icelandic)
Social relations of Icelandic children and adolescents. Published 2020. (Icelandic)
Implementation of mental health work, prevention and support for children and young people in schools in Iceland. Published 2019. (Icelandic)
Mental health promotion, prevention, and support for children and young people in schools in Iceland, national survey results. Published 2019. (Icelandic)
Status analysis and vision for the future in the mental health of children and young people in Iceland. Published 2018. (Icelandic)
Suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts among Icelandic youth: Results of surveys in secondary schools from 2006-2016. Published 2018. (Icelandic)
Joint Action for Mental Health and Wellbeing in Europe. Published 2016. (Icelandic)
Prejudice based on body image in Icelandic society. Published 2015. (Icelandic)

-Automatic translation

Zippy's Friends - a mental health project

Zippy's Friends is a mental health educational material for children aged 5-7 years. The British charity organization Partnership for Children is responsible for the making and dissemination of this educational material that is now taught in 28 countries, including Iceland.

Parents
A great emphasis is placed on the involvement of parents in the teaching of the curriculum. Parents are invited to an introductory meeting before the course starts, and at such a meeting they are given an introductory brochure on the subject. Parents are also prepared with instructions on how to help their child so that he/she can benefit from the curriculum.

Teaching
Zippy's Friends is taught in primary schools but has also been taught in kindergartens. Teachers who teach the subject must all attend a course. Teachers receive training to teach the subject once a week for a total of 24 weeks.

Research has shown very good results on this subject in different cultural settings. The results showed that the children who had gone through the curriculum showed clear improvement in dealing with problems in a positive way compared to children who did not go through it.