A presentation held 16.5.2024 in Helsinki at the policy dialogue meeting between Finland and the WHO European Region. The mental health future in Finland does not look bright. Austerity measures 2025-28 will reduce benefits, increase poverty and result in financial distress in families. Reduced access to primary health care (statutory maximum waiting time increases from two weeks to three months) and increased availability of alcohol (lowered taxes and weakening of the alcohol sales monopoly) will add to the burden. In addition, government financial support to health and social care CSOs will be reduced by 34 %. As a result of the above, population mental health is facing major challenges.

1. The gap between mental
health policy and
implementation - a CSO
perspective
WHO Policy Dialogue
16.5.2024
Kristian Wahlbeck
senior advisor, MIELI Mental Health Finland
Presented on behalf of
Mental Health Partnership Finland

2. 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

3. Stress levels are increasing
Finnish mainland population, aged 15-74 years
Percentage reporting tension, anxiety or
sleeping difficulties due to worries
Stress at moderate or higher level, %

4. Significant psychological distress, %
Men Women

5. Increasing self-reported anxiety among school
students
Lähde: THL Kouluterveyskysely 2023
8-9th grade, boys
8-9th grade, girls
High school, boys
High school, girls
Vocational school, boys
Vocational school, girls

6. Mental health of young women: no decrease in
suicide mortality
Lähde: Tilastokeskuksen kuolinsyytilasto 2023
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
Suicide mortality among young people, age 15-24 y./100 000
Women
Men

7. Sickness leaves due to mental disorders are record
high
Alarming
increase in sick
leaves among
women <35y
Anxiety disorders
Depressive disorders
Sleep disorders
Mood disorders excl. depression
Schizophrenia spectrum
Other mental disorders
Number of people on long (>10 days) sick leaves due to mental disorders 2010-2023

8. 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

9. 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 34 %

10. 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 implemantation 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

11. What do Finnish CSOs need from WHO?
• Civil society needs to be better acknowledged as an essential part on any
mental health system
• Support for advocacy
• Comparative data on mental health systems (access, spending,…)
• Advocacy support for mental health rights based on the UN CRPD
• Support for promoting mentally healthy policies, especially in the fields of alcohol
policy and gaming policy
• Exchange of best practices
• Participation of civil society in mental health impact assessments across sectors
• Large-scale mobilisation of non-health sectors in mental health promotion

12. Kiitos!