Applications for the 2026 Public Health Fund

-Automatic translation

This year's special focus will be on the public health challenges faced by children and young people. These include issues related to mental well-being (such as anxiety, discomfort, and loneliness), screen time, consumption of caffeinated beverages, lack of physical activity, violence, tobacco and nicotine use, alcohol and other drug use, gambling, nutrition, and sleep.

Priority will be given to projects in the following areas that are supported by solid research:

• Mental health and development in the early years of life

• The school as a platform for health promotion and prevention

• Social relationships among children and young people

• Healthy growing conditions and lifestyles for children and young people

• Inclusion and equal opportunities for children and young people in society

• Strengthening health literacy and education to combat prejudice

• Holistic public health plan for health-promoting communities

The allocation will also consider the following policies and action plans:

• Public health policy and measures that foster a health-promoting society (Icelandic)

• Parliamentary Resolution on Public Health Policy until 2030 (Icelandic)

• Alcohol and drug prevention policy until 2020 (Icelandic)

• Mental Health Policy and Action Plan until 2030 (Icelandic)

• Government agreement on improved public health, increased prosperity and equal access (Icelandic)

• Action plan to reduce the suicide rate in Iceland 2025-2030 (Icelandic)

Projects should be founded on a professional basis with realistic and well-defined objectives. An account must be provided detailing how the project's success will be assessed, and a progress report should be submitted once the project is finished. Extensive collaboration among societal stakeholders is an advantage.

Those who sell or promote alcohol, nicotine or energy drinks to young people are ineligible for a grant from the Public Health Fund.