Icelandic experts in public health believe there are indications of increased family problems in Iceland after the economic crisis hit in the autumn of 2008, which has created financial problems for many parents.
From Laugardalur in Reykjavík. Photo by Páll Kjartansson.
This subject was covered in the Guardian online on Monday.
Geir Gunnlaugsson, who was recently appointed Medical Director of Health in Iceland, told the Guardian that he has no doubt which group has suffered the most since the crisis hit—the children. Reports to child protection authorities have increased, visir.is reports.
Halldór Gudmundsson, a lecturer at the Social Science Department of the University of Iceland, agrees. He said children are asking what is happening, what it means that Iceland is going through a crisis and what will happen to them.
However, in contrast to these concerns, a survey recently concluded that children in Iceland were actually feeling better since the crisis hit.
Both interviewees say that they are most concerned about what effect long-term unemployment will have on Icelanders—Iceland hardly knew unemployment before the banking collapse.
Click here to read the article in the Guardian and here to read more about unemployment in Iceland.
