Background: WHO, OECD, UN and EU have encouraged countries to measure population wellbeing and link it with policies, actions and outcomes. The Icelandic whole-of society approach to promote health and wellbeing for all, was developed to meet these demands.
Aims: To present examples from Iceland regarding monitoring population wellbeing, how it has been linked with public policies and formed a holisitc approach to prevent risk behaviour and promote health and wellbeing for all.
Methods: Data from longitudinal nationally representative postal survey assessing 9807 individual’s aged 18-79 of whom 5918 (60.3%) responded in 2007 and again in 2012 and 2017. Data from six repeated cross-sectional, national, population surveys of Icelandic adolescents 15 years old representing 84% of the population, from year 2000-2016.
Results: A small decline in happiness was detected among adults while an increase was detected in happiness among adolescents. With comprehensive community interventions, substance abuse among adolescents dramatically declined from 2000 to 2016 and wellbeing increased.
Conclusion: Prerequisite for having wellbeing on the agenda in public polices is reliable measures. Furthermore, comprehensive universal interventions in local communities can have a positive impact on adolescent´s wellbeing. Good relations are most important for wellbeing for all age groups.