Kick-off meeting Leiden Healthy Society Center

Together, the Municipality of Leiden and the Faculty of Social Sciences took the initiative to establish the Leiden Healthy Society Center. Therefore, on November 8th, Alderman Fleur Spijker and Dean Paul Wouters signed a declaration of intent in front of a room with more than a hundred participants. In it, both parties express their intention to further develop the Leiden Healthy Society Center with all partners in the coming year.

Healthy at 100

During the kickoff in the Town Hall, all speakers emphasized the importance of further joining forces. As mayor, Henri Lenferink explained, he often visits people of Leiden who are turning 100 and he sees big differences: one 100-year-old can still do almost everything independently and does not even have reading glasses, the other needs full assistance.

"Reducing those big differences in health is an important mission of this new Center," said Professor of Health Psychology and Medical Delta Professor Andrea Evers and Eefke de Haan of the municipality of Leiden. They and several other speakers such as Wilco van Dijk, director of Kenniscentrum Psychologie en Economisch Gedrag (KCPEG), argued that the solution to many problems - such as obesity and alcohol addiction - does not just start with individual citizens. After all, how can you get Leiden residents with financial difficulties to eat healthier when fast foods are available everywhere for a few euros? KCPEG translates behavioral insights into practical workshops and training for citizens and professionals.

Multidisciplinary approach to complex problems

All speakers underlined the importance of "co-creation": working together with residents, knowledge partners, welfare organizations and companies to find solutions to problems in the field of health and well-being. Because health issues are often complex due to a combination of problems that reinforce each other, such as divorces, debts and stress. Rector magnificus Hester Bijl and dean Paul Wouters pointed out all the different disciplines that both the university, college, the mbo and all the other partners have.

After a series of flash pitches, under the leadership of psychologist Sandra van Dijk, the entire room "cooked" - all attendees put together a menu in interactive sessions - to gather the best ideas for future collaboration.

Read the detailed report on the Leiden University site.

Text: Linda van Putten

Photos meeting: Buro JP