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Executive summary

This report explores the concept of psychological resilience across the Nordic Region. Using the Finnish comprehensive security strategy as a point of departure, the report defines psychological resilience as citizens’ (individuals’ or communities’) self-initiated and self-organising adaptation to changing circumstances or crises through values-based activities. The report includes a literature review and policy review of societal security and psychological resilience in the Nordic Region, culminating in a framework for understanding Nordic resilience. Case studies from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden provide insights into how psychological resilience is operationalised through local/regional cultural initiatives, community associations, and voluntary organisations.

Societal security in the Nordic countries is a multi-stakeholder activity, with many shared responsibilities. Therefore, the report can inform Nordic leaders and policymakers—as well as other civil society actors, institutions, and local communities—with regards to building resilience in the Nordic Region. The findings have relevance for preparing for, responding to, and recovering from various kinds of crises which threaten the values and critical functions of Nordic societies.

The research identified the following findings:

While the term psychological resilience is not widespread across the Nordics, the action areas and goals found in Finnish strategic thinking resonate with security strategies, risk assessments, and practical resilience-related work in all Nordic countries.
Heightened attention on resilience and preparedness has resulted in a plethora of terms used across the Nordic Region, highlighting both the complexity of resilience work and the lack of clarity when working with it across neighbouring countries.

The major contribution of discussing psychological resilience relates to its emphasis on a community’s shared values, identity, and levels of trust.
Crises do not strike people equally, nor do people face crises from an equal starting point. This means that individual experience of resilience varies greatly and signifies the need for nuanced messaging with regards to individual and local responsibilities and capabilities for crisis preparedness.
Resilience begins in everyday circumstances and among existing communities, cultural initiatives, and social activities, but local actors perceive that most resilience investments disproportionately focus on tangible infrastructure and aspects of defence over the less-tangible, social and psychological aspects which set the foundations and motivations for a willingness to act.
Local actors guide resilience work by flexibility and genuine connections, which allow them to address community needs. Their scope of action related to crisis preparedness, response, and recovery could be wider if more resources and guidance are available. On the other hand, stronger mandates from national actors might endanger the benefits of small-scale action, and some local public institutions risk losing trust if they align themselves too closely with national-level political work.
Local actors and organisations are often able to communicate official messaging from national actors and make it more understandable to the lived realities of their community members, meaning that the actual impact of their work may be larger than the scope of their core activities.
Developing trust takes time, consistency, and predictability. While it may be more easily achieved in tightly knit communities, absence of some social groups may indicate that resilience work has become exclusive or that its common values are no longer widely shared.
Resilience requires public attention on all phases of crisis—from long-term anticipatory action to recovery and joy.

This report is part of the project Recognising and supporting psychological resilience: Regional approaches across the Nordic countries (2025-2027). The work was conducted by researchers at Nordregio and funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers.