Riskiryhmiin kuuluvilla runsaasti terveyteen ja talouteen liittyviä ongelmia

The same people are increasingly likely to suffer problems related to health and finances. For example, more than 70% of labour market subsidy recipients find their financial situation difficult and nearly every other person has a permanent disability or illness. This being the case, their employment could be facilitated and their well-being enhanced by improving psychosocial support for the unemployed and the availability of health services in place of various obligations and sanctions.

These are the findings of a study funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and conducted by the University of Eastern Finland, Kela and Diaconia University of Applied Sciences.

According to the study, prisoners also have many illnesses. For example, 78% of male prisoners and 85% of female prisoners had mental health problems. The number of prisoners with substance dependencies has also increased significantly over the past 20 years. A total of 75% of men and 77% of women had a substance abuse problem.

Being disadvantaged affects trust and future generations

Being financially disadvantaged has a strongly connection to other areas of life. Among other things, this is manifest as dissatisfaction with life, health problems and decreased trust in other people and social institutions.

For example, the study indicates that, on average, customers of substance abuse work have less trust in other people and social institutions. Their level of trust was weakened by the sense of insecurity in their lives, which was in part due to fear of violence and lack of control regarding expenditures. On the other hand, experiences of successfully managing personal money matters and a sense of physical safety in close relationships increased the level of trust in institutions and other people. Support provided by society and experiences of sufficient services and assistance affected the trust of homeless and breadline customers.

Parents' problems also influence the future of children. The study showed that the childhood families of forensic psychiatric patients clearly had a higher than average incidence of alcohol and mental health problems, family violence and longer term financial difficulties.

According to the researchers, various social policy measures can have a significant impact on the situation of disadvantaged people. The results demonstrate that political decision-making related to disadvantaged people should also take the people's personal experiences into consideration.

The Huono-osaisten hyvinvointi Suomessa (Well-being of the Disadvantaged in Finland) study examined prisoners, forensic psychiatry patients and customers of substance abuse work and breadlines regarding their welfare, health, trust in other people and society, social backgrounds and the services and transfer payments that target them.

Additional informationMikko Niemelä, Docent, Senior Researcher, Kela Research Department, tel. +358 40 706 2750, [email protected]

Juho Saari, Professor, Director, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio Welfare Research Center (KWRC) tel. +358 40 828 1027, [email protected]

Sakari Kainulainen, Docent, Director of Research, Special Advisor, Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, tel.+358 40 8696018, [email protected]

Kari Ilmonen, Director, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 2951 63299, [email protected]

 

Related links

Huono-osaisten hyvinvointi Suomessa (Well-being of the Disadvantaged in Finland) study (Kela)