NDPHS Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being

12/08/2026

SOS Children’s Villages Poland’s campaign addresses alcohol’s detrimental effects on children, aiming to reshape cultural norms around drinking while providing support for families affe…

30/07/2026

ASA Expert Insights #2 | No child should become addicted.

Protecting children from ni****ne addiction means staying one step ahead of an ever-changing market.

At the 30th Meeting of the NDPHS Expert Group on Alcohol and Substance Use, Angela Ciobanu, Technical Officer for To***co Control at the WHO Regional Office for Europe, shared the latest developments in WHO's efforts to protect children and young people from ni****ne addiction.

A major focus in 2026 is the World No To***co Day (WNTD) theme, “Unmasking the Appeal: Countering To***co and Ni****ne Addiction.” As part of this work, WHO has published and is preparing a series of new resources, including:

• a report on ni****ne pouches and their marketing strategies;
• supplements to the To***co Control Playbook covering flavour bans and the extension of smoke-free protections to electronic ci******es;
• an analysis of trends in to***co use prevalence across the WHO European Region;
• and an information sheet on to***co and ni****ne addiction.

WHO has also developed communication materials to support the WNTD 2026 campaign and is preparing new educational resources for schools. These materials are designed to facilitate the implementation of to***co- and ni****ne-free school policies through practical tools, evidence-based guidance and training resources.

As ni****ne products continue to evolve, policies and interventions must evolve with them to safeguard the health and well-being of the next generation.

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27/07/2026

ASA Expert Insights #1 | Evidence doesn’t make policy. People do.

The scientific evidence behind effective alcohol policy is stronger than ever. Yet in some countries, proven measures remain difficult to adopt and implement, while existing policies face growing pressure to be weakened or dismantled.

At the 30th Meeting of the NDPHS Alcohol and Substance Use Expert Group (ASA EG), Lauri Beekmann, Executive Director of NordAN, invited participants to examine not only the evidence itself, but also how it is received, understood and acted upon within different political and social contexts.

Decades of research show that measures such as limiting alcohol availability, increasing taxes and prices, and restricting marketing can reduce alcohol-related harm. The challenge is not a lack of evidence. Political priorities, ideologies and worldviews, economic interests, public opinion, industry influence, institutional capacity and changing social norms shape how evidence is understood and whether decision-makers are willing to act on it. In some countries, these forces not only obstruct stronger policies but also create pressure to weaken measures that are already in place.

This also creates an important task for public health advocates. Presenting evidence is not always enough. We must learn how to communicate the same evidence meaningfully across different political ideologies and worldviews, while remaining accurate and faithful to the research.

Alcohol policy also does not stop at national borders. Differences between neighbouring countries in prices, availability and regulation can influence purchasing and consumption patterns, create cross-border effects and make national public health measures more difficult to sustain. This underlines the importance of regional cooperation and shared policy understanding.

The evidence is there. The remaining question is whether political leaders, institutions and societies are willing and able to understand it, accept its implications and act accordingly.

13/07/2026

🎭 Culture is not a luxury. It is a resource for health and well-being.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), arts and culture can be a powerful ally.

In this presentation, Nils Fietje from WHO Regional Office for Europe, explores the broader context behind Arts on Prescription and explains why culture deserves a place in public health.

Drawing on WHO's growing evidence base, he highlights how arts and cultural participation can support mental health, reduce stigma, strengthen social connections, and complement traditional health services.

As he puts it, the arts are not a cure for today's health challenges, but they can be a powerful ally in improving health and well-being for all.

The presentation also illustrates why cross-sector collaboration between the health, culture and social sectors is essential if we want to create more inclusive and people-centred approaches to mental health.

Nils' presentation was recorded during the Arts on Prescription Estonian National Transfer Webinar, organised by the Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being (NDPHS) Secretariat, in its role as coordinator of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) Policy Area Health, together with VATEK - Eesti Vaimse Tervise ja Heaolu Koalitsioon.

🎥 Watch the full presentation on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz2Im8GUnyY

06/07/2026

🌿 What if a museum visit could be prescribed to support your mental well-being?

In this 13-minute presentation, Inga Surgunte shares how Cēsis Municipality, Latvia, transformed its Arts on Prescription pilot into a sustainable local initiative.

Starting with museums and expanding through collaboration between the culture, health and social sectors, Cēsis developed a model that brought together diverse participant groups to support people experiencing mild to moderate mental health challenges.

The results extended beyond improved mental well-being. The programme also:
🎨 strengthened social inclusion and created new community connections
🏛️ helped museums become more accessible and responsive to participants' needs
🤝 reduced pressure on health and social services by offering meaningful activities
🎭 created new professional opportunities for local artists and cultural practitioners

Most importantly, the pilot didn't end when the project funding ended. Recognising its value, Cēsis Municipality committed funding to continue the programme and secured long-term support to further develop Arts on Prescription in Latvia.

Inga's presentation was recorded during the Arts on Prescription Estonian National Transfer Webinar, organised by the Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being (NDPHS) Secretariat in its role as coordinator of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Policy Area Health and Eesti Vaimse Tervise ja Heaolu Koalitsioon.

🎥 Watch the presentation on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9NxWy-KmtQ

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06/07/2026

Mental health support should not start in a clinic.

What if existing arts and culture programmes could become part of the pathway to better mental health? 🎨

In this presentation, Hannah Goebel from the Adult Education Center Bremen shares how Bremen has developed an integrated Arts on Prescription approach by building on existing arts and culture opportunities through cross-sector collaboration.

Rather than establishing a separate programme, Bremen has made its existing course catalogue more accessible to people who can benefit from creative participation. The presentation offers practical insights into how partnerships between the health, social, and cultural sectors can support mental health and well-being in a sustainable way.

Hannah's presentation was recorded during the Arts on Prescription Estonian National Transfer Webinar, organized by the Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being (NDPHS) Secretariat in its role as coordinator of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Policy Area Health and VATEK - Eesti Vaimse Tervise ja Heaolu Koalitsioon

🎥 Watch the presentation on the NDPHS YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=steK9ELUHaA

❓ How can existing cultural infrastructure in your country become part of mental health support? We'd love to hear your experiences and ideas in the comments.

Hannah Goebel from the Adult Education Center Bremen introduces the...

26/06/2026

How can countries continue to develop effective alcohol and substance use policies in a rapidly changing political landscape?

This was the central question at the 30th Meeting of the NDPHS Alcohol and Substance Use Expert Group (ASA EG), held in Tallinn, Estonia, where experts from across the Baltic Sea Region came together to exchange experiences and discuss the latest developments in alcohol, to***co, ni****ne and drug policies.

The meeting, hosted by the Sotsiaalministeerium and moderated by Brigitta Õunmaa, featured valuable contributions from WHO Regional Office for Europe, the Nordic Welfare Centre / Nordens välfärdscenter, NordAN, Movendi International, the NDPHS Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being and representatives from Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden.

Discussions highlighted both encouraging public health trends and emerging challenges from declining youth alcohol consumption in several countries to debates on market liberalisation, digital alcohol sales, ni****ne products, prevention and evidence-informed policymaking.

A big thank you to everyone who contributed to the meeting, especially Brigitta Õunmaa, Angela Ciobanu, Daša Kokole, Ginta Egle, Saara Karttunen, Pia Nevala Westman, Nina Rehn-Mendoza, Lauri Beekmann, Maik Dünnbier, Aive Telling, Kristiin Mikko, Brigita Rašimaitė, Anniken Sand and Ülla-Karin Nurm for their valuable insights and discussions.

🔗 Read the full meeting summary on our website: https://ndphs.org/news/asa-expert-group-meeting-in-tallinn/

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25/06/2026

How can we keep experienced nurses in the workforce longer?

New research from Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu, built on a recent master’s thesis by Krista Lounamaa, with co-authors Liisa Nuutinen and Heini Maisala-McDonnell, highlights six key factors that support longer and more sustainable nursing careers:

✔️ Strengthening physical work ability
✔️ Flexible scheduling and manageable workloads
✔️ Supporting mental resilience
✔️ Creating a healthy and collaborative work environment
✔️ Recognising experience and enabling role renewal
✔️ Promoting continuous learning and professional development

The findings reinforce a central message of the SAFE project: retaining experienced employees requires a holistic approach that supports physical, mental, and professional well-being throughout working life.

As healthcare systems across Europe face growing workforce challenges and ageing populations, creating age-friendly workplaces is not only beneficial for employees, it is essential for the sustainability of health and care services.

The “Solutions for Age-Friendly Employer (SAFE)” project joins four partners from Estonia, Finland and Sweden. The cooperation aims to strengthen and improve employment opportunities for senior workers aged 55+ specifically focusing on the health and wellness sectors. The project is financed by the European Regional Development Fund through Interreg Central Baltic 2021-2027.

🔗 Read more about how the research supports SAFE's work towards age-friendly workplaces:
https://ndphs.org/news/age-friendly-workplaces-safe-project/

24/06/2026

Resilience is built long before a crisis begins 🛡️

When discussing resilience, we often focus on infrastructure, preparedness and crisis response. But what about the PEOPLE who keep our systems running?

The health and care workforce is already under pressure. Yet one of the key messages from the discussion was that resilience is not an individual trait - it is built through supportive teams, effective leadership, psychological safety and organisations that are designed to function under prolonged stress. Trust, communication and support structures need to be in place long before a crisis occurs.

Resilience was a core concept on the 17th EUSBSR Annual Forum in Tallinn on 11-12 May 2026. Three days, over 500 participants, conversations on security, environment, demographics and governance. All circling back to one question: what are our biggest challenges and what does it actually take to build a resilient Baltic Sea region?

🗣️ Listen to the insights of Ulla-Karin Nurm, Rüdiger Strempel, Ulf Siwe, Johannes Tralla, Annabel Keerd, Justyna Koć, Ruzanna Grigorjana and Esa Kokkonen.

🎥 Video: Mart Vares

Read more:
https://ndphs.org/news/resilience-is-built-not-assumed-sustaining-the-health-and-care-workforce-under-pressure/

Council of the Baltic Sea States, Interreg Baltic Sea Region, Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Välisministeerium, Helsinki Commission, City of Tallinn, Kliimaministeerium, Klimata un enerģētikas ministrija, The Baltic Institute of Finland

23/06/2026

Who cares for those who care for us? 💙

That question was at the heart of the PA Health session "Caring for Those Who Care for Us" at the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Annual Forum in Tallinn and the answers point to a stronger, more resilient future for our health and care workforce: it is PEOPLE who keep our societies functioning. Systems cannot be resilient if the people within them are not.

The discussion brought together perspectives from research, crisis management, and frontline practice highlighting the importance of building trust before crises occur, finding ways to function under prolonged pressure, and recognizing that resilience is a physiological capacity that can be developed over time.

As our region faces growing workforce shortages and increasing mental health pressures, caring for those who care for us is not only a health issue - it is a matter of strengthening the social infrastructure our communities rely on.

👏 A special appreciation to our inspiring speakers and moderator for bringing research, policy and frontline perspectives together: Ülla-Karin Nurm, Karolina Mackiewicz, Mairi Savage, Karin Reinhold, Julia Mnich, and Elena Bondar.

Read more:
🔗 https://ndphs.org/news/resilience-is-built-not-assumed-sustaining-the-health-and-care-workforce-under-pressure/