-Automatic translation

The assistant principal of Vogaskóli, Aðalsteinn Hjartarson, welcomed the guests and provided a brief overview of the school, including that it is a smartphone-free environment. Dóra Guðrún Guðmundsdóttir, Head of the Public Health Division at the Directorate of Health, acted as the moderator of the meeting. The President of Iceland, Mrs. Halla Tómasdóttir, the Medical Director of Health, María Heimisdóttir, and the Mayor of Reykjavík, Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir, delivered short speeches.

The voices of young people were a significant part of the programme, with Úlfhildur Elísa Hróbjartsdóttir, a participant of the Peer Education Programme from the Centre for Young People, Embla and Kári, who introduced the Knights of Love this summer, and Eva Karítas Bóasdóttir, a student at the Commercial College of Iceland, reading out quotes from students' responses from the Prevention Day 2024 project.

The Prevention Day 2024 report (Icelandic) was published today, featuring quotes from young people.

Emphasis on protective factors against risk-taking behavior

This marks the 20th occasion that Prevention Day is held in compulsory schools and the 15th in upper secondary schools. Compulsory and upper secondary schools in Iceland can register to participate via the Prevention Day website and subsequently access materials with a particular focus on young people in the 9th grade of compulsory school and in the first year of upper secondary school. Emphasis is placed on protective factors against risky behaviour: spending time with family, participating in organised sports and leisure activities, and allowing the brain to develop. Factors that promote well-being are also addressed, such as social relationships, sleep, physical activity, a healthy diet, a substance-free lifestyle, and focusing on positive aspects. Students answer questions and work on projects related to smart devices and social media. It is assumed that schools will complete the projects between 1 and 24 October. Students can participate in a prize game related to the project, which focuses on challenges and solutions involving phones, screen devices, and social media. Here you can see a presentation of the Prevention Day prize game. To participate, students must be in the 9th grade of compulsory school or in the first year of upper secondary school, and their school must be involved in the Prevention Day project.

The Directorate of Health is responsible for managing the Prevention Day project, with partners including the Office of the President of Iceland, the City of Reykjavík, ISCRA, Planet Youth, the National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland, the Icelandic Youth Association, Youth Work Iceland, the Icelandic Association of Local Authorities, the Association of NGOs in Prevention, the Icelandic Scout Association, the National Police Commissioner, and the Home and School Association.

Municipalities are encouraged to priorities prevention in October. In recent years, many municipalities have organized prevention programmes during October in collaboration with various local parties, associations, and institutions. There is also strong encouragement for parents to participate and enhance good parental cooperation, with schools, youth centers, and municipalities providing valuable support.

We encourage schools, community centers, sports clubs, parents' associations, communities, and others to focus on engaging professionals to speak with children and adolescents about prevention and how to avoid risky behavior. Skilled staff in schools, community centers, and other organizations working with children and adolescents are best suited to deliver prevention teaching and education. If external parties are asked to speak to children and adolescents about risky behavior, careful attention must be paid to how the education is delivered, ensuring that no harm is caused. In this context, reference is made to the fact sheet on What Works in Tobacco, Alcohol and Substance Prevention in Schools (Icelandic) and the International Standards on Substance Prevention (Icelandic).

More information
Dóra Guðrún Guðmundsdóttir, Head of the Public Health Division
Ingibjörg Guðmundsdóttir, Project Manager Health Promoting Schools
Lísbet Sigurðardóttir, Project Manager of the Saman Group
Ösp Árnadóttir, Project Manager in Alcohol and Substance Prevention and Mental Health Promotion