How to make change happen – Bridging the gap between evidence and policy

Watch a recording from John Lavis' presentation on bridging the gap between evidence and policy at the Nordic Conference on Mental Health and the Early Years.

View the presentation slides.

This conference on mental health and the early years is the final event of a three-year Nordic collaborative project, The First 1000 Days in the Nordic Countries, which was launched under the 2019 Icelandic Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The project centers on the first 1000 days of a child’s life, from the prenatal period until the age of two, and focuses on how the Nordic countries:

• Promote mental health and well-being during pregnancy
• Support positive parent-child relationships at the beginning of life
• Identify and respond to early risk factors among parents, infants and toddlers
• Support mental well-being among the youngest children in daycare and preschool

The conference shared knowledge and good practices acquired during this unique project and brought in internationally recognized speakers to present on the current state of knowledge for supporting children‘s healthy start in life. The focus was on how we can move forward into the 21st century with awareness of the importance of the early years and how welfare states can apply existing knowledge on mental health and the early years to support social and economic sustainability.