Mental Health at Work Programme
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The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health implemented the Programme in cooperation with the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, mental health organisations, labour market organisations, other partners and an extensive stakeholder network. The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and MIELI Mental Health Finland were responsible for the operational implementation of the Programme.
The core objective of the Mental Health at Work Programme was to change the focus of the support for mental health in working life from solving existing problems in an individual-focused way to preventing work ability problems. The aim with this was to prevent, for example, sick leave and retirement due to mental health issues and the related costs in the long term.
Solutions to proactively support mental health at work
As concrete solutions to the situation, the Programme created a Mental Health Support Toolkit and a model for occupational health cooperation that helps build a working culture supporting mental wellbeing. The Programme also supported a change in the operating culture and a change in attitudes towards mental health issues by means of communications, more specifically by increasing knowledge about how to support mental health at work.
Operating models and tools promote mental health at work
According to an external assessment of the Programme, the experiences acquired by different organisations during the Programme show that the development work carried out within the Programme have high potential for making a large-scale impact in the years to come.
The model for occupational health cooperation that was developed under the Programme met the objectives set for it with regard to its content and suitability. The model was also assessed to have novelty value. As a result of the measures taken, cooperation and a common understanding improved considerably in some organisations. The model can be expected to support workplaces and occupational healthcare services in their development work to improve mental wellbeing.
According to the assessment, all nine tools of the Mental Health Support Toolkit were digitalised successfully. The tools were used more than 125,000 times during the Programme. The methods and approaches developed have met the general needs of users well, and further development measures were already taken during the Programme. The tools were found to motivate action, thus creating the conditions for achieving a change in attitudes and culture.
According to the assessment, communications were the key factor contributing to a change in the operating culture and attitudes during the Programme. Communications were used to reach key target groups and gain wide visibility for the Programme’s themes. Discussion on mental health became more common and a part of everyday life, and the Programme succeeded in reducing the stigma associated with mental health issues to some extent.
The Mental Health Support Toolkit and the model for occupational health cooperation will also continue to be disseminated and further developed as part of the measures of the Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland.
- Impact assessment report (published on 20 April 2023, description sheet available in English)
- Impact assessment: Mental Health at Work Programme promoted mental health and culture of prevention in workplaces (press release 20 April 2023)
Read more about mental health support tools and models
The set of working life programmes implemented by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health comprises the Mental Health at Work Programme, the WORK2030 Programme and the related research and development programme for work, health and work ability, and the measures of the work ability programme in the administrative branch of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
Jaana Vastamäki, Senior Specialist
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Department for Work and Gender Equality / TTO, Policy Unit / TY Telephone:0295163468 Email Address: