Mission
Improved Well-Being Among Children and Youth
Mission
Improved Well-Being Among Children and Youth
We know that there is a correlation between the well-being of children and young people and their health later in life.
A good life begins with a good childhood. In our early years, we lay the foundation for how we will fare later in life - how we develop, shape our own lives. How we influence others.
That is why it is essential for all children and young people to thrive. And that is why it is concerning that an increasing number of Danish children and young people are struggling in their daily lives and over their life courses.
The joy of attending school is declining, and many children feel lonely and excluded. More are affected by mental health issues and illnesses. For some children and young people, the challenges are particularly significant. Despite multiple efforts, 47,000 young people aged 16 to 24 remain neither in work nor education.
Reversing this trend requires action from society as a whole - from politicians, authorities, civil society, and businesses.
We need new holistic approaches and solutions that cut across sectors and draw on fresh knowledge about what promotes the well-being of children and young people. Above all, it is crucial to listen to and involve children and young people when developing these solutions.
Mission Goal
To increase/improve the physical, mental, and social well-being of children and young people in Denmark by 2040.
We can distinguish between two different forms of poor well-being. The first is the one we are familiar with, which is linked to poverty, certain social classes, deprivation, neglect, and so on. Then there is the new form of vulnerability, which is the one we see growing in recent years. This new vulnerability is connected to and produced through interactions with the education system, the labor market, and the extensive digitalization taking place in young people's lives.
Missionen Success Criteria
Improved physical well-Being, e.g.
- That more children and young people experience general good health
- That more are physically active and feel good about their bodies
- That more have healthy sleep and screen habits
- That fewer experience pain or develop illnesses
Improved mental well-being, e.g.
- That fewer children and young people have worrying school absences or interrupted educational paths
- That fewer suffer from mental health problems or require psychiatric care
- That fewer children experience bullying or unsafe daily lives
- That fewer feel lonely or excluded
Improved social wel-being, e.g.
- That more experience academic and social well-being
- That more participate in extracurricular communities
- That more are enrolled in education or employment
- That more are part of supportive social networks
The ambition is to launch mission-driven projects where researchers and societal actors collaborate.
The overarching goal of the mission will continuously be supplemented with subgoals for a range of mission-driven projects. These subgoals must be specific, measurable, and time-bound. They will be established in dialogue and collaboration with various external actors and partners.
