Time and place
- When
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- 19. May 2026
- 20. May 2026
- Event type
- Conference
- Organizer
- Where
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Honne hotell og konferansesenter
Honnevegen 60
2836 Biri
- Registration
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Registration deadline: 08. Apr 2026
Caring in community: Responses to existential needs in society
Existential approaches are on the agenda and vital within a number of disciplines and practices. The idea behind this conference is that we can meet, tell each other about our research, learn from each other, and together contribute to further research and knowledge development in our related fields.
The conferences builds on the Nordic psychology of religion conferences, which have been arranged annually from 2007 to 2023 by the Research Centre for Existential Health at Innlandet Hospital Trust in Eastern Norway. From 2024 the Nordic Exis Conference is an international bi-annual research conference with participants from the Nordic countries and beyond. This time, the conference asks what kind of responses the Nordic countries have to existential needs in society how this is reflected in national healthcare documents. In addition, the participants are welcomed to present their own research as oral paper presentations, in panels, and as posters.
We are pleased to announce that main representatives from the Public Health Agency of Sweden (PHAS), Anna Månsdotter and Emma Lindholm from, will talk about “Existential perspectives on public health – governmental commission and current activities at the Public Health Agency of Sweden”. In the second keynote, based on his newly released book and work effort over det last two decades, Peter la Cour will give the lecture “One step further: Drawing an outline of existential health”.
Speakers
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Anna Månsdotter
Head of unit at the Public Health Agency of Sweden, PhD and Associate Professor
Areas of expertise: Equality in health, Knowledge synthesis
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Emma Lindholm
Analyst at the Public Health Agency of Sweden and MMSc
Areas of expertise: Public health epidemiology, Evidence-based policy
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Peter la Cour
Authorized health psychologist, PhD and professor
Areas of expertise: Existential and health-related topics in clinical settings and research
Program
Tuesday, 19 May 2026
10.00 Opening
10.15 Keynote/plenary: "Existential perspectives on public health – governmental commission and current activities at the Public Health Agency of Sweden", Anna Månsdotter and Emma Lindholm
11.15 Break
11.30 Panel/plenary: Maria Björkmark, Heidi Frølund Pedersen, Lars Lien:
Status of existential health in the other Nordic countries
12.30 Lunch
14.00 Parallell sessions/panels
15.30 Break
15.45 Poster presentations
16.15 Parallell sessions/panels
19.00 Dinner
20.30 Social
Wednesday, 20 May 2026
09.00 Parallell sessions/panels
10.00 Break
10.15 Keynote/plenary: "One step further: Drawing an outline of existential health", Peter la Cour
11.15 Break
11.30 Panel/plenary: Suvi Säärelainen, Valerie DeMarinis, Heidi Frølund Pedersen / sum up / discussion
12.30 Lunch
Conference commitee
Sigrid Helene Kjørven Haug, Torgeir Sørensen, Pehr Granqvist, Christina Lloyd, Suvi Säärelainen, Heidi Frølund Pedersen, Tatjana Schnell. The conference is planned in collaboration with a network group of researchers in the Nordic countries.
Submissions for paper, panel or poster
You are welcome to submit an abstract for presentation at the conference. The invitation to submit abstract includes individual presentations (15 minutes + 5 minutes discussion), panels with short presentations and discussion (3-4 presentations of 15 minutes + 5 minutes discussion), and posters.
Submit your abstract using the forms below on nettskjema.no.
Deadline
- First submission date for abstracts: February 1. Deadline for response is February 20. This is in case you need an earlier decision of acceptance for your institution.
- Second submission date for abstracts: March 10. Deadline for response is March 27.
A scientific group will review the abstracts and respond. You are also welcome to have meetings in established research groups at the conference. Feel free to contact us if you need more information.
The scientific committee consists of Anne Austad, Peter la Cour, Önver Cetrez, Jonna Ojalammi.
Practical information
Registration
Online registration opens April 1, 2026. More practical information about registration will come later.
Conference fee
The conference fee of 690 NOK is to be paid online at registration.
Accomodation
- Room: single room 945 NOK / double room 1,395 NOK
- Dinner Tuesday: 495 NOK
- Day package Tuesday and Wednesday: 695 NOK (lunch, coffee / tea, fruit)
- Total hotel costs: 2,830 NOK (single room) / 3,280 NOK (double room)
It is possible to arrive Monday evening for 1,344 NOK extra (single room) or 1,794 NOK extra (double room), which includes dinner Monday evening and breakfast Tuesday morning.
All hotel expenses are to be paid to the hotel by checkout.