Nordic Happiness Summit 2025 Explores Joy Through Unity
The first-ever Nordic Happiness Summit (NHS) took place in Helsinki from March 24–25, 2025, bringing together students, academics, artists, policymakers, and businesses to explore the theme of 'Togetherness.' Organized by students from Hanken Business Lab and the Center for Wellbeing, Welfare, and Happiness at the Stockholm School of Economics, this pioneering event aims to reimagine happiness from a Nordic perspective.
The summit was conceived in the basement of Hanken School of Economics by Markus Wartiovaara, who recognized a gap despite the Nordic countries' consistent top rankings in the World Happiness Report. NHS was born from this vision—to create a space dedicated to exploring why Nordic countries rank so highly in happiness and how those values translate into practice.
By integrating perspectives from academia, business, culture, and policy, the summit addressed key issues such as workplace burnout, societal stress, and emotional resilience. The focus was not just on dialogue but also on solutions for a more connected, fulfilled society.
A Unique Student-Led Platform
NHS 2025 stood out as a fully student-driven initiative. From concept to execution, students were deeply involved. Markus Wartiovaara emphasized that NHS reflects the best of higher education—learning beyond classrooms through real-world collaboration and shared experiences.
Project leaders Onni Larri and Anton Mattsson highlighted how the World Happiness Report 2025 inspired discussions on empowerment and wellbeing. Larri noted the summit's goal was to go beyond superficial joy and explore deeper, lasting happiness. Mattsson emphasized how the Nordic education system cultivates empowerment through critical thinking and curiosity—fundamentals that support both personal fulfillment and societal resilience.
Looking Ahead
Following the success of the 2025 summit, NHS is set to become an annual event, rotating between Helsinki and Stockholm. The next edition will be hosted in Stockholm in 2026. Micael Dahlen, a key organizer from the Stockholm School of Economics, called the 2025 edition a 'mjukstart'—a soft, safe space to try, fall, and grow together.
As NHS takes root, it promises to foster ongoing dialogue and practical action around happiness in the Nordic region and beyond.
Key Themes from NHS 2025:
National Trends: Reflections on the World Happiness Report 2025
Workplace Wellbeing: Strategies for better organizational culture
Personal Resilience: Tools for mental health and self-care
Educational Impact: How universities foster happiness through learning and research
For updates on NHS 2026, visit www.nordichappinesssummit.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
5 hours ago
- Economic Times
Is doomscrolling quietly damaging teen brains? Scientists warn it is more than just a waste of time
Scientists have revealed that excessive passive scrolling, or doomscrolling, is severely impacting teenage mental health. Teens glued to screens for over two hours daily showed dramatic increases in anxiety, depression, and impulsivity. With nearly half needing medical evaluation despite no prior issues, researchers urge parents to limit screen time and promote physical activity to protect developing adolescent brains. A new study warns that doomscrolling for more than two hours a day can double teens' risk of anxiety and quadruple their risk of depression. (Representational image: iStock) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads From Habits to Harm: What the Study Found Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Researchers found that 45% of adolescents displayed psychiatric symptoms within nine months, highlighting how passive screen use is quietly fuelling a mental health crisis among youth during a critical stage of brain development. (Representational image: iStock) A Generation at Risk—and a Warning for Parents Beyond the Screen: The Fight to Reclaim Attention It may seem like harmless downtime—hours spent scrolling through social media feeds, mindlessly consuming content. But neuroscientists are sounding the alarm: for adolescents, this habit known as " doomscrolling " isn't just killing time—it could be harming their mental health in dangerous and lasting to a report from the Daily Mail, a new study has revealed that teens who spend more than two hours a day scrolling on phones or tablets double their risk of developing anxiety and are four times more likely to show signs of depression. The findings, published after a nine-month-long study of 580 adolescents, paint a sobering picture of how digital habits are quietly reshaping the emotional landscape of an entire research team, led by Professor Emma Duerden, Canada's Research Chair in Neuroscience and Learning Disorders , focused on adolescents aged 12 to 17 with no prior mental health diagnoses. Shockingly, by the end of the study, 45 percent of participants displayed psychiatric symptoms significant enough to warrant further medical evaluation."This is really surprising," said Prof Duerden. "Before COVID-19, rates of anxiety in adolescents were between 8 and 15 percent. Now, we see almost half of the sample reporting heightened anxiety, which is alarming."The study tracked not just the amount of screen time, but also the way it was used—whether teens were actively posting, chatting, or simply scrolling. It was the passive form of engagement, the relentless scroll of content without interaction—what's commonly called doomscrolling—that showed the strongest negative impact on mental comes against the backdrop of a worsening youth mental health crisis . NHS data from the UK shows that over 20 percent of children aged 8 to 16 had a probable mental health disorder in 2023—a sharp rise from 13 percent in Duerden emphasized that adolescence is a critical period for brain development, especially in areas governing emotion regulation and impulse control. "In past studies, we've seen teens report as much as 15 hours of daily screen time. They wake up, go on a screen, and stay on all day," she screen time to under two hours a day, while encouraging physical activity, is among the most effective ways to support adolescent well-being. But as any modern parent knows, the solution is easier said than new research doesn't just highlight the mental health dangers of digital overuse—it also signals a cultural crisis in how we engage with technology. Doomscrolling thrives on algorithms built for endless engagement, yet teens are increasingly paying the price in anxiety, depression, impulsiveness, and even question now isn't just how much time young people spend on their screens—but how that time is shaping their minds. As doomscrolling becomes a daily ritual for millions, scientists and parents alike are urging a rethink of what we consider "normal" digital behaviour.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Is doomscrolling quietly damaging teen brains? Scientists warn it is more than just a waste of time
It may seem like harmless downtime—hours spent scrolling through social media feeds, mindlessly consuming content. But neuroscientists are sounding the alarm: for adolescents, this habit known as " doomscrolling " isn't just killing time—it could be harming their mental health in dangerous and lasting ways. According to a report from the Daily Mail , a new study has revealed that teens who spend more than two hours a day scrolling on phones or tablets double their risk of developing anxiety and are four times more likely to show signs of depression. The findings, published after a nine-month-long study of 580 adolescents, paint a sobering picture of how digital habits are quietly reshaping the emotional landscape of an entire generation. From Habits to Harm: What the Study Found The research team, led by Professor Emma Duerden, Canada's Research Chair in Neuroscience and Learning Disorders , focused on adolescents aged 12 to 17 with no prior mental health diagnoses. Shockingly, by the end of the study, 45 percent of participants displayed psychiatric symptoms significant enough to warrant further medical evaluation. "This is really surprising," said Prof Duerden. "Before COVID-19, rates of anxiety in adolescents were between 8 and 15 percent. Now, we see almost half of the sample reporting heightened anxiety, which is alarming." The study tracked not just the amount of screen time, but also the way it was used—whether teens were actively posting, chatting, or simply scrolling. It was the passive form of engagement, the relentless scroll of content without interaction—what's commonly called doomscrolling—that showed the strongest negative impact on mental well-being. You Might Also Like: 'What a magical thing that is': Carl Sagan's wise words on reading books are the fresh breeze we need amid digital brain rot iStock Researchers found that 45% of adolescents displayed psychiatric symptoms within nine months, highlighting how passive screen use is quietly fuelling a mental health crisis among youth during a critical stage of brain development. (Representational image: iStock) A Generation at Risk—and a Warning for Parents This comes against the backdrop of a worsening youth mental health crisis . NHS data from the UK shows that over 20 percent of children aged 8 to 16 had a probable mental health disorder in 2023—a sharp rise from 13 percent in 2017. Prof Duerden emphasized that adolescence is a critical period for brain development, especially in areas governing emotion regulation and impulse control. "In past studies, we've seen teens report as much as 15 hours of daily screen time. They wake up, go on a screen, and stay on all day," she said. Limiting screen time to under two hours a day, while encouraging physical activity, is among the most effective ways to support adolescent well-being. But as any modern parent knows, the solution is easier said than done. Beyond the Screen: The Fight to Reclaim Attention This new research doesn't just highlight the mental health dangers of digital overuse—it also signals a cultural crisis in how we engage with technology. Doomscrolling thrives on algorithms built for endless engagement, yet teens are increasingly paying the price in anxiety, depression, impulsiveness, and even aggression. You Might Also Like: How 'doomscrolling' before bed is wrecking your health? New study confirms our fears The question now isn't just how much time young people spend on their screens—but how that time is shaping their minds. As doomscrolling becomes a daily ritual for millions, scientists and parents alike are urging a rethink of what we consider "normal" digital behaviour. You Might Also Like: What is 'zombie scrolling' and why it is more dangerous than 'doom scrolling'? Expert reveals
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
UK faces major blood crisis, calls for 2,00,000 more donors as ‘red alert' looms large
Live Events Black donors needed NHS urgently needs more lifesaving blood donors: Health Minister Merron (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The National Health Service (NHS) has issued a warning that the UK requires one million regular blood donors to maintain supply and avoid a "red alert". The 'red alert' suggests that blood supplies are so low that there is a threat to public health service has called for 2,00,000 new donors to step forward citing that it continues to face a "challenging" shortage of blood. The NHSBT managed to add just 2% of the population, under 8,00,000 people, who sustained the whole of England's blood supply in the last one claimed that there is a "critical" need for more donors who have O negative blood. It is the universal type used in emergencies or when a patient's blood type is July 2024, officials had issued an "amber alert" for stocks of O negative and O positive blood following the cyberattacks that hit London hospitals. According to media reports, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has stated that blood stocks have remained low on the blood stock situation, Dr Jo Farrar, NHSBT chief executive has said that the stocks have been challenging over the past 12 months. 'If we had a million regular donors, this would help keep our stocks healthy - you'd truly be one in a million,' he said."Please book an appointment today, experience how good it feels to save lives, and come and do it again in a few months," Farrar further media reports have claimed that NHSBT has stressed over the requirement of more Black donors, who are more likely to have specific blood types that can help in the treatment of people with sickle cell Minister Baroness Merron has said that the NHS is in urgent need of more lifesaving blood donors from all backgrounds."We are working alongside NHS Blood and Transplant to make donating blood easier than ever before, opening up new donor centres and making appointments available closer to home," she said, as reported by The Guardian. Women can donate blood once every four months and men can do the same once every three months.
