Conference

Healing Childhoods - Mental Health Interventions for Children Affected by War, Emergencies and Displacement.

We are pleased to invite you to the Center for Crisis Psychology (CCP) Conference 2026 — a collaborative initiative between the Center for Crisis Psychology, University of Bergen, and the Children and War Foundation.

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UiB

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Millions of children grow up in the midst of war and armed conflict. The psychosocial consequences are profound, and the need for effective support is urgent. This one-day conference brings together leading experts, practitioners, and humanitarians to explore how we can better understand and support children affected by war, displacement, and disaster.

Through presentations and discussions, we aim to strengthen knowledge, inspire action, and foster collaboration across sectors. The insights gained are not only vital for children living in conflict zones, but also for improving psychosocial support for refugee children who may carry the burdens of war with them after settling in Norway and other countries.

Highlights include

Insights into the psychological impact of war on children
Evidence-based intervention models
Regional experiences from some of the most war-affected areas in the world,
Contributions from SOS Children’s Villages, UNICEF, Africa CDC, and academic institutions
A closing panel on challenges and opportunities in the field

Programme

	Part 1: Moderator Professor May Aasebø Hauken, Center for Crisis Psychology, UiB
08:30 – 09:00	Welcome and Introduction Professor May Aasebø Hauken, Center for Crisis Psychology (CCP), UiB Musical Performance Greetings by: Center for Crisis Psychology, Children and War Foundation, SOS Children’s Villages, Norway
09:00 – 09:25	The Psychological Impact of War on Children Dr Unni Heltne, Center for Crisis Psychology, UiB
09:30 – 09:55	Mental health and psychosocial support before, during and after emergencies on the African continent Dr Mohammed Abdulaziz, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)
10:00 – 10:25	Guidelines and Best Practice for Psychosocial Support to Children in War and Emergencies Dr Ragnhild Dybdahl, Center for Crisis Psychology (CCP), UiB/Norwegian Institute for Public Health
10:30 – 11:00	Coffee break
11:00 – 11:25	Psychological interventions for children affected by war: What do we know? Professor Richard Meiser- Stedman, King’s College, London
11:30– 11:55	Psychosocial Support to Children in Sudan Professor Shahla Eltayeb, Dean of research and Innovation Naif Arab University (NAUSS) & Ahfad University Trauma Center - Sudan
12:00 – 12:25	Example of a viable low threshold intervention for children affected by war; The development, history and work of Children and War foundation Professor Patrick Smith, King’s College, London
12:30 – 13:30	Lunch
	PART 2 Moderator: Inger Hygen, chair of Children and War Foundation
13:30 – 13:55	Psychosocial Support for Children in Gaza, experiences from implementing Teaching Recovery Techniques (TRT) Dr Johanna Cunningham, UNICEF Middle East
14:00– 14:25	Researching children and war – how should it be done? Professor Tim Dalgleish, University of Cambridge
14:25 – 15:00	Coffee Break
15.00 – 15:40	Panel Discussion: Challenges and Opportunities in Supporting Children Affected by War Participants: Dr Pieter Ventevogel, UNHCR; Johanna Cunningham, UNICEF, Gaza; Dr Mohammed Abdulaziz, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC); Others tbc; Moderator: Ragnhild Dybdahl
15:45 – 16:05	Book launch: Resilience in the Shadows by Eltayeb, S., Heltne, U.M. & Dybdahl, R. (Eds) Moderator: Dr Prudence Atukunda Friberg, Center for Crisis Psychology, UiB
16:10 – 16:15	Closing remarks Professor May Aasebø Hauken, Center for Crisis Psychology, UiB
16:15 – 17:00	Networking and Informal Discussions