“Is the ‘happiest country’ a myth? What Finland does for youth mental health and why Moldova is lagging behind”
Finland, which for eight years has been called the “happiest country in the world,” is a society far from free of anxiety, crises, and vulnerabilities. The country is only beginning to emerge from recession, unemployment remains high, and the mental health of young people is a serious concern — including suicide rates that exceed the EU average.
The difference with Moldova is not the absence of problems, but how they are acknowledged and addressed. NewsMaker journalist Stela Untila visited several organizations working in youth mental health. Why Finland focuses on prevention and early intervention, what Finnish experts think about the influence of social media, how specialists reach young people through video games, and what differences a Moldovan psychiatrist noticed — in the report.
The study visit to Finland took place from April 4 to 10, 2026, and was organized within the EU4Youth program for participants from six Eastern Partnership countries — Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova.
Finland and Moldova: same problems, different responses
Anxiety, depression, social pressure, uncertainty about the future, and feelings of isolation exist both in Finland and Moldova. The difference lies not so much in the nature of these problems, but in how they are recognized and treated. Finland has a National Mental Health Strategy and a suicide prevention program for 2020–2030. The main focus is on promoting wellbeing, prevention, and early intervention.
This does not mean Finland has avoided difficulties. On the contrary: around 77% of women and 70% of men receive at some point in their lives a diagnosis of a mental or behavioral disorder. Mental health problems account for 55% of disability pension cases. Among young people, 20–25% live with at least one such issue, about 10% have experienced serious suicidal thoughts, and 5% have attempted suicide. The economic losses caused by these issues are enormous: already in 2011 they were estimated at around €11 billion, and today the amount is undoubtedly much higher.
In other words, Finland is an example not because it has no psychological problems, but because it recognized the issue early and built a support system around it.
Yeesi, Helsinki, Finland
Yeesi: mental health as a resource, not just the absence of illness
Yeesi is the first national organization in Finland working with youth mental health. Its core message is simple: mental health is not only the absence of illness, but a resource that must be developed and maintained. The organization works with young people aged 13–29, combining direct support with advocacy.
In the Finnish model, psychologists and psychotherapists are not the only ones involved. Youth workers also play an important role — they are present in schools, community centers, and informal spaces. Peer-to-peer support is widely used, reducing stigma and making help more accessible to those not ready to approach formal services.
However, Finnish organizations are not immune to problems. While a few years ago Yeesi employed 15 people, in 2026 only six remain.
“The Finnish government has a long-standing and close relationship with NGOs. The state depends heavily on them: there are many services it does not provide itself because NGOs deliver them, or the state purchases these services from them. Now this model is changing. Funding for the sector is being cut, with the argument that these functions should be performed by the state. But the government is not reallocating these funds to the public sector. As a result, these services simply disappear — and hundreds of thousands of people are left without the help they need. And in my view, this will cost very much in the future, because early intervention and prevention are extremely effective,” explains Yeesi advocacy expert Erika.
She also dismantles the image of Finland as a social paradise: “It’s a myth, a marketing element. Finland 5–10 years ago is not the Finland of today. I’m not even sure I will have a pension when I’m old. We think everything is fine, but it isn’t. Income directly affects access to healthcare.”
In recent years, the pandemic, war in Europe, economic crisis, and unemployment have changed young people’s mood and optimism about the future.
“In recent years, a new vulnerable group regarding suicidal thoughts has emerged — women aged 30–39. Young people are losing faith in the future. Only a third of them look at it with optimism,” Erika adds.
MIELI Mental Health Finland
MIELI Mental Health Finland is the oldest NGO in the world working in mental health. For more than 120 years it has been helping people in Finland cope with life crises. Today many of its programs are focused on youth.
One of the most popular services is Sekasin (“Messed up”), an anonymous and confidential chat for young people aged 12–29. On the other end are not AI bots, but real people supporting teenagers and young adults in difficult situations — even when the issue is not a severe crisis. In 2025 alone, around 55,000 conversations took place.
“July is the month when we are literally overwhelmed with requests. Because in Finland everyone goes on holiday, and doctors often warn patients they will be away for a month or more. In urgent situations they turn to us,” says online counselor Siru.
Eight volunteers currently run the service — four during the day and four at night. Sekasin chat operates seven days a week, including holidays. Most users are aged 20–24.
Gaming as a space for mental health support
Another way Finland reaches young people is by going where they already are: video games and online platforms.
Sekasin Gaming uses gaming as an entry point for human contact and emotional support. Young people join servers, play, communicate via voice and text chats, and participate in online events. About 47% of users are aged 18–24, and another 30% are under 17.
Thus, gaming spaces become places where young people not only play but also connect, build relationships, and sometimes ask for help. The service includes anonymous peer-to-peer support and is available 24/7. It is the largest national online youth community in Finland.
The system relies heavily on volunteers. “When we see that a moderator spends too much time in chat, we recommend they take a one- or two-week break, because it becomes dangerous for their own mental health,” explains Lukas.
Last year, about 2 million messages were sent in the chat. Police are also present on the server.
“We have two police officers on the server. We asked users how they feel about it, and most had no problem. Because Finnish police are very friendly,” Lukas says, laughing.
“In Finland, the police are seen as helpers. We call them ‘gaming police’. Young people feel they can trust them and directly contact them if something happens or if they need sensitive information,” he adds.
When help goes offline
Not all work happens online. The Sekasin LIVE program is an offline initiative implemented by MIELI and eight regional crisis centers. It targets young people aged 12–29 and works where they spend time: schools, youth centers, libraries, shopping centers, and other public spaces. The team is small — only eight people — who interact with youth individually or in groups.
For example, if teachers report loneliness or bullying in a school, groups can be created. Sometimes young people are referred to crisis centers or specialists. Workshops on emotional regulation or simple street outreach are also organized.
But the project is financially vulnerable and mainly funded by private donations, including from an insurance company.
The key message: young people do not always need new services or programs — they need trustworthy adults in everyday life who simply ask: “How are you? What is going on with you?”
“So that the need for help does not become a need for treatment”
The same logic of early intervention underpins Walk-in Therapy. Its motto says it all: “So that the need for help does not become a need for treatment.”
The program began in Finland in 2021 as a pilot and became national within a year. It is free, anonymous, and does not require an appointment. It usually consists of a single therapeutic session.
“Sometimes one professional conversation is enough. Clients can continue sessions, but not necessarily with the same therapist. You can also come with a companion — a parent, friend, or partner. We may take notes, but we do not keep records and destroy all papers at the end of the session. In Finland, if you are referred to psychotherapy, it may take a long time to get an appointment. In that case, walk-in therapy can be a form of support,” explains project coordinator Miika.
Last year, more than 2,600 people used the service, mostly aged 19–25. It is now available in 34 locations across more than 50 sites, as well as online at certain hours.
Sosped and new digital addictions
In Finland, mental health is increasingly viewed through the lens of behavioral addictions: excessive gaming, social media use, and gambling. One organization addressing these issues is Sosped, which develops peer-support-based services where people with lived experience become mentors.
One key program focuses on digital addictions for people aged 18–35. It combines professional help with support groups and includes early interventions, bootcamps, and even digital detox retreats — multi-day camps without gadgets.
Sosped also works with gambling addiction. The scale is significant: about 4.2% of the adult population plays at a risky or problematic level, and 20% of Finns say they have been affected by a loved one’s addiction.
“Gambling is part of Finnish culture, but it becomes a problem when it starts interfering with normal life,” explains digital expert Helmi.
She also supports restricting access for users under 15 to certain social platforms, noting that tech executives themselves often limit their children’s exposure to screens.
Public libraries as prevention infrastructure
In Finland, prevention is not only psychological services but also public spaces designed to reduce isolation and strengthen belonging. The Oodi Library in Helsinki is located near the central railway station, opposite the parliament. It spans three floors and over 17,000 square meters.
On the first floor, people of all ages play chess, relax, use board games, or borrow sports equipment. Youth workers help with job applications and housing forms. Everything is free and open to all.
The second floor is a creative workspace with music studios, 3D printers, sewing machines, and meeting rooms. The third floor is a quiet reading space with robotics that transport books between shelves.
What about Moldova?
In Moldova, mental health problems are similar, but the approach differs. Psychiatrist Alexandru Ciobanu, who heads a community mental health center in Cimișlia, describes a structural issue: prevention is difficult to measure — and therefore poorly funded.
“If you treat ten cases, you can document them and be told ‘well done.’ But if you prevent 100 cases, you cannot show them,” he says.
