Almedalen Week marked the starting point for a deeper dialogue on youth wellbeing

During Almedalen Week 2025, the research center WOMHER participated for the first time in the democratic forum held in Visby. Together with the research program UPIC and the organization Mind, two fully booked seminars were organized at Campus Gotland, focusing on youth mental health. With researchers, policymakers, civil society representatives, and young people themselves on the panel, a clear message emerged: young people must be involved in shaping the solutions.

Almedalen Week has long served as a platform for public debate and political dialogue. This year, WOMHER from Uppsala University took the stage to highlight one of the most pressing issues of our time – the mental health of young people, especially young women. The seminars, held in collaboration with UPIC (Young People's Mental Health in Focus) and Mind, brought together researchers, decision-makers, and youth voices in a shared conversation about the future of care.

The first seminar, moderated by Sofie Hallberg and Ida Höckerstrand from Ångestpodden, focused on what actions are needed to promote mental wellbeing and a sense of hope among young people. Pernilla Åsenlöf, professor and leader of UPIC, emphasized the importance of including youth in the development of solutions:
– To suggest appropriate interventions, young people must be part of providing the answers.

Tilda Boisen, author, lecturer, social commentator, and creator of the podcast “Always Tell This”, participated in the panel as a recognized voice in the field of youth mental health.

The second seminar explored how mental (ill)health is measured and interpreted. Speakers such as Emma Hovén (Director of WOMHER), Johanna Wester (Mind), and Sven Bremberg (Karolinska Institutet) discussed how statistics, self-assessments, and digital tools shape our understanding – and sometimes overlook important nuances.
– We want to contribute to a more nuanced picture and stress that safeguarding mental health is a matter of human rights and must be prioritized accordingly," said Emma Hovén.

The collaboration between Mind and Uppsala University now continues with deeper initiatives targeting young women aged 15–29. By combining research, statistics, and the lived experiences of youth, the initiative aims to identify knowledge gaps. The goal is to develop more precise methods for measuring and supporting mental health – and to drive lasting change.