Some of the Arctic Health affecting challenges and good practices were shared in the below stated examples, although the list is not exhaustive. We appreciate the importance of every contribution from experts from and beyond Thematic Network on Health and Well-being in the Arctic.
Vice-Lead of the TN Anastasia Emelyanova together with Lena Thompson convened session on Promoting Healthy and Inclusive Ageing in Arctic People and Communities with several TN members reporting on healthy ageing processes in rural and urban Arctic settlements from all over the region (e.g. Agneta Larsson, Sarah-Anne Munoz, Janet Jull). Adjacent to that, it was an unique arrangement that Alaska Native Elders visited the congress and gave inspiring live interview on how to age in a good way as part of the congress's cultural program. Another Vice-Lead of the TN Anna Rönkä presented report with Riitta-Marja Leinonen on “Well-being from nature – pilot research on university students’ nature connectedness in the Arctic”, and had another presentation on the topic of loneliness experiences among northern Finnish young adults at the session on Gender Equal and Inclusive Arctic communities.
The members of the Arctic Health network had many more interesting presentations: Joan Nymand Larsen on social and economic inequalities in the Arctic as well as indicators of human well-being in the Arctic, Amy Caughev shared about Inuit women’s knowledge of country food for health and well-being in Nunavut. Alexander Drossos presented on impacts of climate change and other aspects of mental health in the Arctic as well as told about a Graduate Circumpolar Health Course that he leads. He also took part in the panel on paediatric mental health, development & well-being in the Arctic together with Ketil Lenert Hansen, Ivalu Katajavaara Seidler and others. Ketil convened the session on Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Community Health and Well-being in the Changing Arctic. Christina VL Larsen and Charlotte Brandstrup Ottendahl presented at the sessions related to youth in the Arctic: challenges and possibilities. Lena Maria Nilsson, Ulla Timlin, Katie Cueva and Suzanne Fox took part in the panel on Transformative Responses: Fostering mental health and community resilience in remote Arctic Communities in the face of COVID-19. Katie, in addition, presented on Alaska Native Youth Voices on Resilience: Changing the narrative of suicide prevention to cultural strengths that support wellness at the session on examining the societal dynamics of resilience in the Arctic.
Many more talks were devoted from one or another angle to Arctic health in the areas of public health response to One Health approach to health research and education, suicide prevention, enhancing emergency care in underserved Arctic settings. Community health and well-being in the Arctic was discussed through lens and effects of hydropower, healthcare systems, land ownership, permafrost thaw, stakeholder engagement and many more issues. The full program of the congress can be found at the congress website.
Next, the scholars and students of the Thematic Network on Health and Well-being in the Arctic look forward to gathering at the upcoming International Congress of Circumpolar Health, that will happen in Canada later this year.