Knowledge & Resources

The Policy Brief on strengthening tuberculosis treatment, screening, and surveillance presents a strategic framework for eliminating tuberculosis in the Nordic-Baltic region. It stresses the need to move from fragmented local approaches to standardized regional cooperation. The brief calls for modernized treatments and stronger data-tracking systems, with a focus on addressing the root of infection rather than only active cases. Through unified action and shared policy, the region aims to become a global model for tuberculosis elimination.

This Policy Brief has been produced within the Latent Tuberculosis Infections Inventory project, co-funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services.

Workplace Culture: Key to Loyalty and Psychological Safety During Career Transitions

In the third episode of the “SAFE and Sound” podcast, our host Heini Maisala-McDonnell from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences welcomes at the studio Katja Hautala, Human Resources Director from⁠ Canon Finland⁠, and Antti Harjuoja, NextMile. The discussion explores how to support late-career development, how organisational values and leadership shape long-term commitment, and what lessons can be learned from international best practices in age-friendly work.

This podcast is part of Interreg Central Baltic funded project SAFE – Solutions for Age-Friendly Employer. Available on Spotify – “Tune in Health”.

In the second episode of the “SAFE and Sound” podcast, our host Heini Maisala-McDonnell from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences welcomes at the studio Jaana Jantola, Tempore Personnel Services, and Antti Harjuoja, NextMile. The conversation focuses on how flexibility, inclusion, and understanding can help organisations strengthen age-friendliness and extend working lives. Our guests shares practical solutions, challenges, and the importance of seeing ageing as a source of value and experience in modern work communities.

This podcast is part of Interreg Central Baltic funded project SAFE – Solutions for Age-Friendly Employer. Available on Spotify – “Tune in Health”.

In this article, Alison Maassen and Ülla-Karin Nurm examine the topic of social prescribing – a promising approach to complement traditional healthcare. Social prescribing connects people to community activities, like arts, creative events, or nature walks, aiming to enhance their health and well-being. It addresses health determinants, offers a person-centered, health-promoting approach, and helps reduce pressure on health systems. Although interest is rising across Europe, long-term success relies on consistent funding, seamless integration into health and social systems, and investment in community resources to generate widespread and lasting positive effects.

Journal of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.

This document is an overview of the national work on psychosocial work environments in Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, and Sweden.

The findings are produced by the MentalHealthMatters project partners along with the Swedish and Lithuanian members of the Expert Group on Occupational Safety and Health, which operates under the NDPHS. The project is co-funded by the European Union and receives financial support from the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme 2021-2027.

In the MentalHealthMatters project, the Communities of Practice have identified key areas for improvement related to policies and regulations on mental health and working life, knowledge and data related to this topic, and education and competencies of employers, workplace leaders and OSH professionals related to psychosocial factors at work. This report presents the findings from Poland.

In the MentalHealthMatters project, the Communities of Practice have identified key areas for improvement related to policies and regulations on mental health and working life, knowledge and data related to this topic, and education and competencies of employers, workplace leaders and OSH professionals related to psychosocial factors at work. This report presents the findings from Norway.

In the MentalHealthMatters project, the Communities of Practice have identified key areas for improvement related to policies and regulations on mental health and working life, knowledge and data related to this topic, and education and competencies of employers, workplace leaders and OSH professionals related to psychosocial factors at work. This report presents the findings from Latvia.

In the MentalHealthMatters project, the Communities of Practice have identified key areas for improvement related to policies and regulations on mental health and working life, knowledge and data related to this topic, and education and competencies of employers, workplace leaders and OSH professionals related to psychosocial factors at work. This report presents the findings from Finland.

In the MentalHealthMatters project, the Communities of Practice have identified key areas for improvement related to policies and regulations on mental health and working life, knowledge and data related to this topic, and education and competencies of employers, workplace leaders and OSH professionals related to psychosocial factors at work. This report presents the findings from Estonia.

What makes a workplace age-friendly? In the NDPHS podcast’s “Tune in Health” sub-series “SAFE and Sound: Workplaces for All Ages”, we focus on different aspects of career management and attitudes to all ages. Together with Liisa Nuutinen and Heini Maisala-McDonnell from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, and Antti Harjuoja, CEO from NextMile, we share success stories, and explore how to boost job opportunities for individuals aged 55+.

This podcast is part of Interreg Central Baltic funded project SAFE – Solutions for Age-Friendly Employer. Available on Spotify – “Tune in Health”.

Country-specific recommendations that address national challenges that impact the mental health of the workforce in Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Poland, and Norway. The document also highlights the value of collaboration across the Baltic Sea Region and an entire European Union to foster healthy workplaces, it outlines clear actions in improving the situation.

Our online First-Aid Kit is tailored for workplace leaders in small businesses, including employers, managers, supervisors, human resources professionals, and work environment representatives, seeking to promote mental health proactively. Prioritising the mental health and well-being of your team is more than just a responsible choice. It’s a powerful way to unlock your team’s full potential and foster a positive, productive, and thriving work environment.

The MentalHealthMatters project receives financial support from the Interreg Baltic Sea Region and is co-funded by the European Union.

The glossary outlines the Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region project’s organisation, the AoP model, and its meaning and related definitions.

The project „Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region” (2023-2025) is co-funded by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund) in the frame of the Interreg Balticc Sea Region Programme.

The Arts on Prescription (AoP) concept is that people dealing with mild to moderate mental health problems such as stress, anxiety or depression as well as those at risk of developing such conditions get a prescription not for medicine or therapy, but for taking part in art activities. This has been proven to have positive health effects and to improve mental well-being.

This video presents museums as places to improve the mental health and well-being of local communities – a good practice from Cēsis, Latvia. The pilot programme is a part of our project “Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region” co-funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme. For more information visit: https://interreg-baltic.eu/project/ar…

Latvian with English subtitles.

The publication outlines the aims, tasks, structure, and target groups of the Interreg project “Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region 2023-2025”.

This brochure introduces the Arts on Prescription approach to mental healthcare and provides an overview on health effects, economic benefits, as well as characteristics of the ‘Baltic model’ developed, tested and evaluated in our Interreg BSR project.

The potential benefits of art and culture for health and well-being have been well studied and proven – but how to turn theory into practice? In this online event, we showcased examples of concrete cross-sectoral actions and initiatives done in the Baltic Sea Region.

The event was organised by Odense Municipality on behalf of the Interreg BSR “Arts on Prescription” project, the NDPHS as the Coordinator of PA Health in the EUSBSR, and the NDPC, with financial support from the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme 2021-2027.

The guide is about arts-based interventions that combine medical and cultural approaches with the aim of offering support to arts and health practitioners interested in creative approaches to well-being.

Produced in collaboration with the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture.

What are the challenges within alcohol use prevention work in the region and what opportunities a transnational collaboration can bring? In this episode we discuss changes in alcohol consumption patterns in our region and the most effective policy options to reduce health and economic harms from it. Episode’s expert guest is Håkan Leifman from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.

The aim of the AgeFLAG project was to contribute to the health and wellbeing of older adults and, therefore, to make the societies more inclusive. Through national and regional needs assessments, the project identified the most important issues in relation to active and healthy ageing that the NDPHS partner countries face. The roadmap proposes joint activities that could be undertaken within the NDPHS context to address the regional needs. This roadmap presents a selection of these activities that the Partnership has committed to undertaking in the upcoming 2-3 years.

In this episode we are discussing the urgent needs of Ukrainians living with HIV and how the treatment and care have been ensured for the Ukrainians who have been forced to leave their country and for the ones who have remained in Ukraine. Episode’s expert guests are Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak from Polish Foundation for Social Education (FES), Ute Hiller from Berliner Aids-hilfe and Holger Wicht from Deutsche Aids-hilfe.

How are we doing as individuals, communities and as nations, and how sustainable is that for the future? In this conversation, we discuss the Economy of Well-being that puts people and their wellbeing at the centre of policy and decision-making. We start with Finland – one of the frontrunners of implementing the Economy of Well-being. The guest expert is Anni Marttinen, Chief Economist at SOSTE – Finnish Social Welfare and Health Association.

What is ageism? What are the leading factors on the change in how we see and feel about ageing and ageing populations? Can a person have SELF-ageism? In this episode we are getting to know what is meant by ageism and how the narratives could be changed for a more positive look on ageing. Episode’s expert guest is Tiina Tambaum, a well published spokesperson in Estonia on the topics of healthy ageing and educational gerontology. Tiina is a research fellow at the Estonian Institute for Population Studies, Tallinn University and she teaches Educational Gerontology at the Institute of Educational Sciences.

The report on the follow-up of the Baltic Sea Youth Declaration 2020 lists the recommendations given to the PA Health in the EUSBSR and how the NDPHS as a PA Health coordinator has acted on them. The document lists concrete actions that have been achieved so far and what are the future plans and commitments of the PA Health in order to amplify the voices of young people in our region.

The Roadmap produced through the AgeFLAG seed money project presents the first practical actions towards establishing the NDPHS as a thought leader on active and healthy ageing. The presented activities contribute to the flagship process on active and healthy ageing of Policy Area Health within the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.

Drinking alcohol at an older age has become a progressively prevalent cultural practice. Heavy episodic drinking is in the rise and hazardous drinking resulting in hospitalisation or death have increased. This policy brief presents five knowledge-based policy recommendations to prevent and care for older people with harmful alcohol consumption patterns.

The online conference Connecting minds across the ages asked: why is age-based discrimination and prejudice so widespread and how do we overcome it? The conference was organised as a Side Event to the Partnership Annual Conference 2021.

The highlights from the online conference Connecting minds across the ages, discussing ageism, intergenerational contacts and inclusivity in service design and policymaking. The conference was organised as a Side Event to the Partnership Annual Conference 2021.

The joint regional needs assessment report presents the four regional priorities for further action to improve health and wellbeing of the ageing population. The report is produced within the context of the AgeFLAG project as an input for the roadmap for regional action based on the priorities identified in national needs assessments.

An AgeFLAG workshop named “Policy Lab”, organised in February 2021, brought together regional health experts to co-create future NDPHS activities to promote active and healthy ageing. This report presents the outcomes of the policy lab and presents an input for the regional roadmap to guide the NDPHS work on ageing.

The second AgeFLAG workshop was organised in September 2021 to discuss and co-create potential NDPHS actions to promote active and healthy ageing. The workshop focused on integrated care, labour participation, and life-long learning. This report presents the outcomes of the policy lab and input to the regional roadmap to guide the NDPHS work on ageing.

The policy brief reports key findings of a study that analysed official mortality data on premature deaths under 70 years of age in the North of Europe. The majority of premature deaths are avoidable by effective health promotion, disease prevention, and evidence based medical treatment.

The Estonian national needs assessment report presents the five national priorities for promoting active and healthy ageing. This report has been developed in connection to AgeFLAG -project and as input to the regional roadmap to guide NDPHS work on ageing.

The research review reports key results from three studies applying three different perspectives on alcohol and substance use in older adults. It condenses the experience of the three studies, covering drinking patterns, client profiles in healthcare settings and challenges to home care, into lessons learned.

The policy brief presents the facts on the ageing and multimordibity in Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea Region, explores the problems, challenges and opportunities, and provides a set of actionable recommendaitons for the different groups of stakeholders, from the policymakers to the general public. The document is a result of an online conference Multimorbidity and Ageing in the Northern Dimension Area held on 23 September 2020.

The Finnish national needs assessment report presents the five national priorities for promoting active and healthy ageing. This report has been developed in connection to AgeFLAG -project and as input to the regional roadmap to guide NDPHS work on ageing.

The Latvian national needs assessment report presents the five national priorities for promoting active and healthy ageing. This report has been developed in connection to AgeFLAG -project and as input to the regional roadmap to guide NDPHS work on ageing.

The Lithuanian national needs assessment report presents the five national priorities for promoting active and healthy ageing. This report has been developed in connection to AgeFLAG -project and as input to the regional roadmap to guide NDPHS work on ageing.

The Polish national needs assessment report presents the five national priorities for promoting active and healthy ageing. This report has been developed in connection to AgeFLAG -project and as input to the regional roadmap to guide NDPHS work on ageing.

The Russian national needs assessment report presents the five national priorities for promoting active and healthy ageing. This report has been developed in connection to AgeFLAG -project and as input to the regional roadmap to guide NDPHS work on ageing.

The Swedish national needs assessment report presents the five national priorities for promoting active and healthy ageing. This report has been developed in connection to AgeFLAG -project and as input to the regional roadmap to guide NDPHS work on ageing.

The use of psychoactive prescription medication is increasing in the general population, which is a cause of concern particularly among older people. The manuscript published in BMJ Open presents the findings of a blood sample analysis that determined the frequency of psychoactive substance use among acutely hospitalised patients. The Expert Group on Alcohol and Substance Use has contributed to the study.

Tobacco smoking is a major preventable risk for non-communicable diseases. The manuscript published in Tobacco Prevention and Cessation investigates predictors of tobacco smoking among acutely ill patients admitted to a Moscow hospital, and the association between smoking and alcohol use. The Expert Group on Alcohol and Substance Use has contributed to the study.

The manuscript published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence estimates the prevalence of harmful alcohol use in relation to socio-demographic characteristics among acutely ill medical patients, and examines identification measures of alcohol use. The Expert Group on Alcohol and Substance Use has contributed to the study.

To implement health promotion and disease prevention, reliable and timely information on population’s health, its determinants and their distribution are needed. The manuscript on the Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL) published in the European Journal of Public Health presents the trends in preventable premature loss of life, its causes and developments between 2003-2013 in Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea Region. The manuscript is based on research carried out by the Expert Group on Non-Communicable Diseases.

In the Northern Dimension Antibiotic Resistance Study (NoDARS), Finland, Germany, Latvia, Poland, Russia and Sweden collected urine samples from outpatient women (aged 18-65 years) with symptoms of uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) to investigate the levels of antimicrobial resistance among E. coli isolates. This manuscript published in Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance presents the outcomes of the study.

The manuscript published in European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases presents the fecal carriage prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase production in E. coli (EP-EC) and/or Klebsiella prenunomiae (EP-KP) and risk factors associated with carriage among adult study subjects in Finland, Germany, Latvia, Poland, Russia and Sweden. The manuscript presents the findings of the Northern Dimension Antibiotic Resistance Study (NoDARS).

The report shares experiences from eight of the NDPHS Partner Countries on the early implementation of the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System GLASS. It provided feedback on the supportive material for early implementation of GLASS developed by the WHO, and on the countries’ process of the early implementation.

The report presents the findings of the research on the identification, incidence and reporting of work-related diseases, occupational diseases and emerging risks in the NDPHS Partner Countries. The Better Prevention -project was carried out by the Expert Group on Occupational Safety and Health.

The report provides background information on the situation regarding occupational accidents at workplaces based on surveys carried out in the Nordic and Baltic States. It was produced through Realloc Accidents -project, which was carried out by the NDPHS Expert Group on Occupational Safety and Health.