For episode 10 of the All Things Iceland podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Gunnar Örn Ingólfsson, a practicing psychologist in Iceland. We spoke about the state of mental health care in the country. Even though Iceland has consistently ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world, according to The World Happiness Report, the country ranks as the fourth most depressed nation in Europe. I find that quite shocking and I wanted to get better insight into why there is such a high rate of depression in Iceland and what steps the country can take to improve the situation.
Gunnar has a PhD in Counseling Psychology and he has worked extensively with adult clients in the US and Iceland that suffer from depression, anxiety, drug problems, as well as computer and internet addiction. He also works with those that find it difficult to adapt to the variability of life. His work with clients centers around Solution Focused Therapy.
I enjoyed this interview not only because it helped me to better understand mental health care in Iceland , but also because Gunnar is my husband. It was interesting to hear his perspective on a topic that I know is very close to his heart. I have added the contact details for his private practice below for anyone that is interested in reaching out to him.
Questions I asked Gunnar about mental health care in Iceland during the interview:
- What sparked your interest in psychology and providing counseling to people?
- Why is it important for you to provide counseling in Iceland?
- Is it a part of Icelandic culture to openly share how you are feeling?
- How are people with mental illness treated in Iceland by other members of society and medical doctors?
- The seasons can be quite drastic here, with long, dark nights in the winter and long, bright days in the summer. Do you notice more people seeking therapy during winter as opposed to summer?
- I read that Iceland’s mental health care system is not adequately meeting the needs of the people here and that a large % of residents are on antidepressants. Can you share your thoughts on that?
- What do you think is the biggest obstacle in the way of improving mental health treatment in Iceland and what steps do you think can be taken to help improve this situation?
- What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase? (I like to end off the show with this question. It can be mental health related but it doesn’t have to be) His answer was: “Það tekur fólk alla ævina að læra að lifa.” Check out the show to find out what that phrase means in English.
Dr. Gunnar’s Private Practice Contact Information
Sálfræðistofa Reykjavíkur Facebook page
I hope you enjoyed listening to this interview as much as I enjoyed conducting it. Please remember to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss the new episodes that I upload every week. If you are listening to this podcast on a platform that allows a reviews, please leave a review.
Goða skemmtun og sjáumst fljótlega (Enjoy and see you soon)!
