Results of the School Health Promotion Study from Western Uusimaa 

There have been positive developments in how children and young people are in Western Uusimaa compared with the previous survey, which was conducted in 2021. For example, children and young people engage in physical activity more at all educational levels that responded to the survey. 

“It is also significant that students in upper secondary education have become less worried about their mood,” says Mari Ahlström, Service Area Director for services for children, youth and families Mari Ahlström in the Western Uusimaa wellbeing services county. 

This year, the proportion of students worried about their mood in general upper secondary education was 39.4 per cent (45.6% in the 2021 survey) and 33.3 per cent in vocational education and training (37.1% in the 2021 survey). The COVID-19 pandemic and the various restrictions linked to it could be seen in the 2021 results, but the situation has now calmed down. 

This year, pupils were asked about their own empathy skills (being a friend, taking the feelings of others into account). According to the results, comprehensive school pupils in Western Uusimaa (4th and 5th-grades and 8th and 9th-graders) felt that they had good empathy skills. Empathy skills are needed in all relationships and interaction. 

“Empathy skills help in everyday challenges as well as in the challenges children and young people face when growing up. This is why the result is gratifying from our county’s perspective,” says Ahlström.  

Unfortunately, the experience of anxiety observed among 8th and 9th-graders and students in upper secondary education in the previous School Health Promotion study has not declined. 

In Western Uusimaa, moderate or severe depression has increased especially among girls. About one third of girls in grades 8 and 9 of comprehensive school and girls in the 1st  and 2nd year of upper secondary education experience moderate or severe anxiety. 

“We support children’s and young people's mental health, wellbeing and ability to study at all levels of education. However, we have a shortage of personnel, just like there is in healthcare and social welfare overall.  The situation is challenging but not impossible,” Mari Ahlström sums up.  

Based on the results, about 60 per cent of 8th and 9th-graders of comprehensive schools and students in vocational education and training and general upper secondary education find it easy to get to see the school social worker. 

There were some differences in how easy it was to get an appointment with the psychologist and the school nurse. 

In the survey, getting an appointment with the psychologist was found easy by 

• 61% of students in vocational education and training, 
• 57% of students in general upper secondary education and  
• 55% of 8th and 9th-graders in comprehensive schools.  

Getting an appointment with the school nurse was found easy by 

• 73% of students in vocational education and training, 

• 69% of students in general upper secondary education and  
• 66% of 8th and 9th-graders in comprehensive schools. 

According to Ahlström, investments in student welfare, support provided with a low threshold and primary health and social services are the key to improving the situation.  They are also emphasised in our wellbeing county’s service strategy.  

Positive developments in Western Uusimaa compared with the previous survey: 

• There is an increase in leisure-time physical activity of children and young people. 
• Worrying about one’s own mood has declined among upper secondary students. 
• The opportunities to influence events at school have increased. 
• Comprehensive school pupils find that they have good empathy skills: 59.9% of 4th and 5th-graders (57.2% in the whole country) and 45.6% of 8th and 9th-graders (41% in the whole country). 
• The family's financial situation is seen as more positive when compared with the results of the whole country. 

Concerning developments in West Uusimaa compared with the previous study: 

• Satisfaction with life in general is declining. 
• Moderate or severe anxiety has increased especially among girls: it is reported by 35.3% of 8th and 9th-graders (31.2% in the 2021 survey), 35% of girls in vocational institutions (32.9% in the 2021 survey), 29.3% of 1st and 2nd-year students in general upper secondary education (29% in the 2021 survey). 
• Young people spend more time online than they should.  
• Alcohol use is increasing slightly. Alcohol use of 8th and 9th-graders in comprehensive school and 1st and 2nd-year students in vocational institutions is slightly on the increase. Weekly use has increased slightly among 8th and 9th-graders, whereas it has decreased among students in general upper secondary education.   
• Based on the responses given by students of general upper secondary schools and vocational institutions, purchases of alcoholic beverages for an underage child by a family member have increased. 

Read the press release of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (in Finnish)(external link) 

Results of the School Health Promotion study for the whole country and by area (in Finnish)(external link) 

One of the development areas in student welfare in the Western Uusimaa wellbeing services county is multiprofessional cooperation in educational institutions especially in the organising of mental health services for young people. Familiarise yourself with multiprofessional cooperation in student welfare (video duration 5:26) (in Finnish)(external link). 

Watch a webinar recording: Children and young people – servants or masters of smart devices? (in Finnish)(external link)