Guest pen|Psychosocial methods assessed as effective are not yet used systematically and equally in Finland.
With children problems with attention and behavior are common. Many young people are depressed or anxious. In the most recent school health survey, one in three girls and slightly less than ten percent of boys reported moderate or severe anxiety. More than half of the girls and slightly less than a fifth of the boys stated that they had been worried about their mood during the past year.
Children and young people do not get the support they need: the overload of mental health services has increased, help is received too late, it is haphazard and lacking in effectiveness. There are too few services offered by counseling centers, early childhood education and student care, and the treatment of mental health disorders is focused on specialized medical care.
Mental health disorders were the most common cause of sickness allowance in Finland in 2023. Based on OECD figures, it is estimated that impaired mental health costs 11 billion euros per year. Sickness benefits and disability pensions will be much more expensive than the prevention and treatment of mental health disorders.
A large part of the of mental health disorders break out already during childhood and adolescence. The symptoms should be addressed as early as possible using proven psychosocial methods. They promote mental health and ability to function, reduce symptoms and take into account both the individual and his environment.
For example, the Miracle Years parenting group is intended for the prevention and treatment of behavioral disorders in children aged 3–12. The pro school operating model, on the other hand, is intended to reduce the behavior problems of primary school-aged children and young people and to strengthen positive behavior in schools.
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Help is often haphazard and incomplete.
In Finland, psychosocial methods assessed as effective are not yet used systematically and equally, even if there are available effective means for the prevention and treatment of mental health disorders.
The municipality-based social security system did not have enough resources to introduce and maintain suitable psychosocial methods, even if they were known. Some methods have not been rooted in the service system, and the maintenance and monitoring of expertise required by legislation has been insufficient. So the methods are often out of use after a few years.
Presently the legislation being prepared aims to secure children and young people’s early access to effective psychosocial treatments in primary care, instead of offering them in the current way only in special care.
Increasing the effectiveness, prevention and equality of treatment is an important part of the reform. In connection with that, the criteria for the evaluation of psychosocial methods and which methods belong to the service selection are defined.
Researched and effective methods in social and health care can support and treat the mental health of children and young people better than at present, and prevent problems in early childhood education and schools.
It is not enough that we have impressive methods in our range of services. Their successful implementation and monitoring must also be ensured. This requires systematic national support for welfare regions and municipalities.
Junior and the prevention and treatment of mental health disorders in young people cannot be solved simply by reforming the legislation.
The discussion is now focused on savings. Along with that, there should be much more talk about what could be done in Finland differently and more effectively than before. Effective psychosocial methods are needed so that as many children and young people as possible can live a good everyday life, study and then in time participate in working life.
Andreas Blanco Sequeiros is a director at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Petra Kouvonen is the director of the Jubilee Year of Independence Children’s Foundation in Itla.
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