Last week, Iceland wrapped up its annual Prevention Month with a seminar titled, “We Know This: Safety and Well-Being for All Children and Young People Through Coordinated Community Action, from Parliament to Village.” This year’s event focused on addressing recent challenges, especially the rise in youth violence, and highlighted the need for a united response. The key takeaway was clear: we have proven, effective methods to tackle these issues, and now is the time to reinforce them through collective action.

This isn’t the first time Iceland has faced such challenges. In the 1990s, substance use among Iceland’s youth was at an all-time high. Through coordinated efforts across communities, Iceland successfully curbed these trends, setting a global example for prevention. This year’s seminar emphasized the need to build on this foundation, adapting our proven strategies to address today’s unique challenges.

Planet Youth was honored to participate alongside notable speakers. Planet Youth’s Chief Knowledge Officer, Margrét Lilja Guðmundsdóttir, presented critical data on youth well-being in Iceland. Iceland’s Minister of Health, Willum Þór Þórsson, opened the event with remarks that set a hopeful tone. Representatives from the Icelandic Directorate of Health presented on “Safety and Well-Being for All Children and Young People: The Big Picture” and “What Works in Prevention Efforts.” Other presentations covered essential topics like home-school cooperation,

Youth voices were also prioritized, with representatives from Samfés, the national youth council, sharing their perspectives and highlighting the importance of giving young people a voice in shaping solutions.

Following a brief intermission, participants engaged in micro-presentations on targeted, community-level prevention strategies. The seminar concluded with a panel discussion where representatives from each parliamentary party running in the upcoming November 30 elections shared their priorities for the safety and well-being of Iceland’s youth.

This year’s seminar underscored that we know what works—our past efforts are proof. Now, it’s about implementing these strategies through coordinated, community-driven action to ensure a safe, healthy future for Iceland’s young people.