New methods and tools for student welfare

In the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County, student welfare services (school and student health care, school social worker and psychologist services) are currently training staff for guided self-care and the youth intervention navigator, Interventionavigaattori.

Guided self-care involves a short period of work that combines the client’s independent work in the self-care programmes of the Mielenterveystalo.fi online service with support and guidance provided by a professional. In guided self-care, the family or the young person are not left alone with their situation, and the amount of independent work can be flexibly adjusted according to the situation and need.

Guided self-care for children is aimed at the guardians of primary school-age children, whose child may have, for example, neuropsychiatric features, challenges in behaviour or anxiety. During the work period, the guardian receives information about the child’s difficulties and learns ways to help the child. Guided self-care for young people is especially suitable for young people with mild anxiety or depressive symptoms, common life challenges or a desire for a change in a problem area. Guided self-care for young people can be attended by the young person alone or with the guardian.

The youth intervention navigator, Interventionavigaattori, is a digital tool for professionals that collects and compiles comprehensive information on factors relating to a young person’s mental well-being. It can be used independently by a young person aged 13 or over, but there is also a separate section for guardians. Information received from the guardian is often extremely valuable. A student welfare professional will be happy to instruct the young person and the guardian on the use of the intervention navigator.

More information about guided self-care is available here (in Finnish): Omahoito-ohjelmat | Mielenterveystalo.fi(external link), and you can visit the youth intervention navigator here: Interventionavigaattori(external link).

In spring 2024, guided self-care will become widely available in the student welfare services of our entire wellbeing services county, and the intervention navigator will be used as a tool.