sport
Copenhagen High Schools Keep Athletics Running This Week
School-based running and field activities continue in the capital as larger road events draw attention to youth participation.
How we reported this
High school athletes across Copenhagen completed standard training sessions and small-scale meets this week without standout championship results entering public records.
Why the activity matters now
The city's 2019-2026 Action Plan for Better Mental Health includes municipal stress and anxiety clinics aimed at young people, and regular physical activity forms part of the broader effort to address rising diagnoses of depression and anxiety among Danish children and youth. Sixteen percent of Copenhageners, roughly 75,000 people, currently report poor mental health, with the highest stress levels among those not in employment and among younger age groups.
Local programs and venues in use
Weekly free 5k parkrun events take place at Amager Fælled, Amager Strand and Damhusengen, giving school-aged runners access to measured courses without entry fees. The University of Copenhagen continues to promote its ABCs of Mental Health initiative, which encourages residents to Act, Belong and Commit through community activities that include organised running. These efforts sit alongside the larger World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 26, expected to bring 65,000 participants to the city for One Mile, 5K and Half Marathon distances in 2026.
Evidence for the scale of youth mental-health challenges comes directly from municipal figures showing the increase in depression and anxiety diagnoses from 2,300 to 7,100 cases over the past decade. The Health Club Copenhagen programme, aimed at ages 18-27, was created in response. No new high-school-specific competition results appear in this week's verified local records, so current activity remains focused on ongoing training rather than headline outcomes.
Students and coaches can continue to access free anonymous counselling through Psykiatrifonden at 39 25 25 25 or the municipal Center for Mental Sundhed while maintaining regular athletics schedules at the established parkrun sites.