KiVa Antibullying Program selected for UNICEF and European Commission Prevention Toolkit for Children’s Health and Wellbeing
The KiVa Antibullying Program has been selected for the UNICEF and European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) Prevention Toolkit for Children’s Health and Wellbeing. The Prevention Toolkit was developed in response to shared challenges facing children across Europe, including growing inequalities and mental health concerns.
The toolkit provides policymakers at national and regional levels with practical, evidence-based guidance for designing, implementing and monitoring policies across four key areas of children’s health: immunisation, healthy lifestyles, early childhood development and mental health. KiVa program has been selected under the toolkit’s mental health pillar and highlighted as a universal prevention program reaching all children.
KiVa is an evidence-based anti-bullying program now implemented in 31 countries and more than 2,500 schools. KiVa is a comprehensive whole-school program designed to prevent bullying and address bullying cases effectively when they occur. The program focuses on reducing bullying and its negative consequences, supporting victimized students, empowering students to support one another in the classroom context, and fostering safe and positive schools where bullying is less likely to occur.
Evidence-based approaches in tackling bullying and supporting children’s wellbeing
“We are proud to see KiVa recognised as a good practice in the UNICEF and European Commission Prevention Toolkit,” said Johanna Kivinen, International Program Manager of the KiVa Antibullying Program. “This recognition reflects more than two decades of pioneering research at the University of Turku, which laid the foundation for KiVa and continues to strengthen its impact. It highlights the importance of evidence-based approaches in tackling bullying and supporting children’s wellbeing.
Research shows that KiVa reduces both bullying and victimisation across multiple forms of bullying while also improving school engagement, academic motivation and educational outcomes. Studies have additionally demonstrated positive effects on students’ mental health, including reductions in anxiety and depression. Among students involved in KiVa intervention discussions, 98% report that their situation improved.
The KiVa implementation model is built around three core components
- Prevention: Universal actions targeted at all students and including classroom lessons, videos, posters, staff resources, parent engagement materials and family guide.
- Intervention: Structured responses to bullying cases led by trained school KiVa teams, using evidence-based discussion methods with students involved.
- Monitoring: Annual anonymous surveys that provide schools with actionable data on student wellbeing, bullying and victimisation rates.
The toolkit also includes the Incredible Years programme
KiVa is an evidence-based anti-bullying program developed at the University of Turku, Finland. It is now part of INVEST Research Flagship Centre.
The toolkit also includes the Incredible Years programme, which has been implemented in Finland for 20 years. The implementation and impact of the programme are being studied at the Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, which is part of the INVEST Flagship and serves as the programme’s national hub in Finland.