Finland's Mental Health Policy 2020-2030

Presentation held at University of Turku 18.9.2024.
Finland's national mental health policy aims at shifting focus from late curative measures to promotion, prevention and early intervention in primary care. However, implementation of the policy is treatened by government austerity measures.

1. Finnish national mental health policy University of Turku 18.9.2024 Kristian Wahlbeck senior advisor , MIELI Mental Health Finland

2. MIELI – the national mental health CSO since 1897 2 55 local member organisations 22 crisis help centres around Finland 31 organisational members 130 employees 3500 volunteers Maintains the national Crisis Hotline, the youth chat Sekasin and provides mental health training around Finland Manages the operation of Victim Support Finland

3. Kristian Wahlbeck What is mental health ? A state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. WHO 2015 Mental health is more than absence of mental health problems 28.9.2022 3

4. EU MENTAL HEALTH POLICY PATHWAY 2005 Green Paper for Mental Health -“Improving Mental Health of the population. Towards a strategy on mental health for the European Union” 2008-2011 The European Pact for Mental Health and Well-being 2011 Adopted Council Conclusions -“The European Pact for Mental Health and Well-being: results and future actions” 2013 The EU framework on mental health 2013-2016 The Joint Action on Mental Health and Well-being 2015-2018 The EU Compass for Action on Mental Health and Well-being 2020 Council decision on EU Mental Health Strategy 2023 EU Commission comprehensive approach for mental health Kristian Wahlbeck 28.9.2022 4

5. National Mental Health Strategy 2020–2030 Finland’s Mental Health Strategy has five focus areas: Mental health as human capital Children and young people's mental health Mental health rights Broad-based services meeting individual needs Good mental health leadership It also includes a programme for suicide prevention. Available : https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/handle/10024/162234

6. 1. Mental health as human capital

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8. Mental health literacy is at the core of mental health capital A focus of Finland’s mental health strategy 2030 is mental health literacy for all Mental health skills are part of national curriculum for early childhood education, elementary schools and high schools socio-emotional skills mindfulness skills safety skills coping skills commitment to values and dreams

9. 2. Children and young people’s mental health

10. Mental health is shaped early in life Where and how we are born, grow, live, work and age determines our mental health

11. 3. Mental health rights

12. Mental health rights Based on the UN Convention on Rights of People with disabilities (CRPD), the rights to be accepted and not discriminated against, e njoy respect for human dignity, and fundamental and human rights, equal access to housing, studies, work, subsistence and social inclusion, to decide what things support coping with daily life and receiving support in line with these, civic engagement, to be part of the decision-making process, and action as peer and expert by experience, to good and effective care when necessary, to use Finland's national languages and other languages spoken in Finland, and obtaining sufficient interpretation and translation services in mental health services

13. 4. Broad-based services meeting individual needs 13

14. 19.08.06 14 Principles of Finnish health care Universality Solidarity Equity The right to adequate health care is enshrined in the Constitution

15. Services The Finnish Mental Health Strategy aims to services that are user -driven , age and developmentally appropriate and perceived as suitable by service users. accessible, effective, of high-quality and available in a timely manner, flexible, compatible and support continuity, promote revovery , f ollowing the equality principle: service planning paying particular attention to population groups at risk inequality taking the client’s family and other relations into account both as a resource and as people in need of support maintaining the competence and wellbeing at work of the staff, prioritising the physical health of people with mental health or substance use disorders in the same manner as rest of the population 10.10.2017 Civil society actions 15

16. Failure to provide specialised mental health services within maximum waiting time in some wellbeing services counties Data source : THL

17. 5. Good mental health leadership Leadership adapts organisations and their activities towards topical issues and economic actualities affecting mental health preparing them for future challenges. Management is based on current knowledge and technology. The availability of knowledge from topical and preventative research is safeguarded. The most suitable indicators are used to inform leadership and management. The Mental Health Strategy is regularly evaluated and focal points are reformulated as necessary.

18. 6. Suicide prevention programme

19. Mental health of young women : no decrease in suicide mortality Lähde: Tilastokeskuksen kuolinsyytilasto 2023 Men

20. Based on the national mental health strategy , identified implementation needs include : - cross- sectoral measures to promote population mental health , especially addressing young people - improved access to early psychotherapeutic interventions in primary care - capacity building in services for children and adolescents - prevention of suicide among most vulnerable groups

21. The mental health future does not look bright Austerity measures 2025-28 will reduce benefits , increase poverty and result in financial stress in families Reduced access to primary health care ( statutory maximum waiting time increases from two weeks to three months ) Increased availability of alcohol ( lowered taxes and weakening the alcohol sales monopoly ) Government financial support to health and social care CSOs will be reduced by almost 40 %

22. An overlooked and threathened mental health system In spite of an excellent mental health strategy , means for implementation are largely lacking A comprehensive cross- sectoral implementation is urgently needed in view of deteriorating population mental health and rising costs due to mental disorders Austerity is threathening services and civil society contributions A faint light in the tunnel is provided by the preparation of a whole-of-government resolution on mental health promotion

23. Successful mental health actions build on intersectoral collaboration A shift in focus from late curative measures to promotion , prevention and early intervention in primary care

24. Kiitos!