Now that the conference spots are confirmed, the 16th European Public Health Conference 2024 – “Sailing the Waves of European Public Health: Exploring a Sea of Innovation” is drawing even nearer. We are eagerly preparing for the activities and events scheduled from 12-15 November 2024 in the beautiful city of Lisbon, Portugal.
As part of our tradition, our CAPH section will be hosting the “Join the Network” meeting, providing an opportunity to reconnect, share insights, and foster meaningful collaborations. During this session, we will engage in an open discussion on how we, as public health professionals, can work together to improve child and adolescent health. We encourage you to bring your research topics, themes, and priorities to the table as we aim to create a platform where your ideas and curiosities can take center stage.
Further down, you’ll be able to see the upcoming CAPH events at the conference, but for now, we’d like to introduce you to an extraordinary human being featured in our Shine the Light section.
Shine the Light: Spotlight on Remarkable Achievements
Starting in 2023, we have decided to highlight individuals who are making significant impacts and achieving extraordinary feats in their respective fields. Join us as we celebrate their accomplishments and share their inspiring stories that ignite hope and motivation. For this edition, we’re delighted to showcase the work of Dr. Tania Gaspar.
Reading time: 4 minutes By Diana Nemes
Shaping the Future: Dr. Tania Gaspar’s Holistic Approach to Child and Adolescent Public Health
An interview with Dr. Tania Gaspar, Associate Professor at Lusófona University and Director of the Centre for Psychology Innovation and Knowledge (CPIC) in Lisbon, Portugal
Brief Introduction Dr. Tania Gaspar holds PhDs in Psychology and Management and a Master’s in Public Health. She leads the WHO’s Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study for Portugal, shaping adolescent health policies. She also heads the Portuguese Laboratory for Healthy Working Environments, is a member of the HEI-Lab (Human-Environment Interaction Lab), faced with the growing challenges of technology, and serves as President of Aventura Social Associação. Her work significantly impacts public health, both in Portugal and internationally.
Upcoming Event: Meet Tania this November at the EUPHA conference in Portugal!
Interview Highlights This section highlights Dr. Tania Gaspar’s journey and her significant contributions to child and adolescent public health, providing insights into her projects and their impact on policy and practice in Portugal.
What inspired you to pursue a career in public health, especially with a focus on child and adolescent health? My career started in clinical psychology, but I soon realized that individual interventions were not enough. We needed to look at health from a biopsychosocial perspective, understanding people in their environment and relationships. This realization pushed me to pursue a Master’s in Public Health. My early work with migrant populations in Lisbon shaped my understanding of public health challenges, especially concerning marginalized communities, and confirmed my passion for child and adolescent health.
Can you explain the goals of the HBSC study and how it influenced public health policies in Portugal? The HBSC is a collaborative study with the WHO, which began in Portugal in 1998. It’s conducted every four years in 51 countries, assessing children’s physical, psychological, social, and environmental health. This research provides crucial data that informs policies on adolescent health, comparing variables across different countries and allowing us to monitor trends. For instance, we’ve seen a significant rise in mental health issues, particularly post-COVID, and this has shaped policy recommendations for improving youth mental health services in Portugal.
We’ve built strong relationships with the Ministry of Health and Education in Portugal. Our research feeds directly into national strategies. For example, our data played a key role in the creation of the National Observatory for Mental Health and Well-being, and we’ve been asked to develop mental health training programs for teachers. Our goal is to make a tangible impact, not just through data collection, but by providing actionable insights that can shape interventions.
Can you talk about your approach to working with educational institutions? Schools are crucial environments for reaching children, so our approach is always collaborative. We conduct assessments, work closely with teachers, parents, and school leaders, and then develop tailored interventions. It’s important to maintain ongoing relationships with schools beyond just the research phase, so they see the value in what we do and trust the process. For instance, we are exploring ways to involve schools in a national platform where they can receive real-time data on student health, allowing for more personalized interventions.
What challenges have you faced in implementing these school-based projects? One challenge is maintaining consistency with the changing political landscape. Every time the government changes, we need to re-establish trust and present our findings again. Schools themselves can sometimes be resistant, especially when they are overwhelmed, as we saw after the pandemic. But by building long-term relationships and showing the real-world benefits of our work, we’ve managed to maintain strong partnerships.
What advice would you give to public health professionals and researchers who are just starting in the field of child and adolescent health? Focus on seeing the bigger picture. It’s not just about working with individuals, but understanding the broader biopsychosocial context—how people interact with their environments, relationships, and social structures. Build strong relationships with local communities, governments, and institutions, as collaboration is key. Also, always emphasize preventive measures and early interventions. Lastly, be persistent and adaptable, especially when dealing with changing policies and systems.
How can people stay updated on your latest research and initiatives? I’m very active on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, where I share updates almost daily. I also participate in several conferences each week, where I present our findings and collaborate with colleagues globally. I’m always open to new collaborations and ideas. The goal is to build connections and continue making a positive impact on public health.
Chairperson(s): Maria Papadakaki (EUPHA-INJ), Julia Dratva (EUPHA-CAPH)
Preventing unintentional injuries due to home and leisure time accidents in children: the parents’ beliefs matters (CHILD Vigilance project – CHIVI) Tatiana Alves (Portugal)
Machine Learning Approach to Injury Monitoring in Children and Adolescents Sonja Feer (Switzerland)
Long-term disability following childhood injury: an imperative to monitor and address the continuum of trauma care Shanthi Ameratunga (New Zealand)
Home and leisure accidents among children and young people up to 19 years old as an event observed in the EU-IDB surveillance system: 2012-2021 data Tatiana Alves (Portugal)
Chairperson(s): Heiko Schmengler (Netherlands), Julia Dratva (EUPHA-CAPH)
Leveraging epidemiological data for the development of interventions to promote healthy nutrition and physical activity among adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds Heiko Schmengler (Netherlands)
Empowering youths through citizen science to address health inequalities in adolescence Lourdes Cantarero Arevalo (Denmark)
Ensuring the right to health care for detained adolescents: cross-sectoral strategies and policy innovations WHO Regional Office for Europe Alves da Costa (WHO EURO)
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