Health and Wellbeing | Student Union of the University of Helsinki
Guide
Health and Wellbeing
It is easier for you to enjoy studying when you are healthy and motivated! Thankfully, you have the FSHS, municipal healthcare services and the Student Union all taking care of your health. We influence health promotion in various working groups and provide support for finding help to ensure that your studies are as pleasant and effortless as possible.
This guide provides you with information on student healthcare as well as help for different crisis situations.
FSHS
Look after your health and wellbeing
The Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) is there to support your health and wellbeing during your studies. The FSHS provides low-threshold services in general health, oral health and mental health as well as promotes the wellbeing of study communities. Most of the FSHS’s services are free for basic degree students.
Start using Self to access services online!
Self is an online service that allows students to manage their contacts with the FSHS. Through Self, you can manage your contact details and appointments, use contact forms, communicate via chat and start a remote consultation. Register to use Self right at the beginning of the academic year!
Helsinki
Töölönkatu 37 A
Mon–Thu at 8 am–3 pm, Fri at 8 am–2 pmEspoo
Otakaari 12
Mon–Thu at 8 am–3 pm, Fri at 8 am–2 pm
Treatment need assessments and appointments
Through the chat service: yths.fi/en/self
Mon–Thu at noon–3 pm, Fri at noon–2 pmBy phone:
Mon–Thu at 8 am–3 pm, Fri at 8 am–2 pm
General health, tel. 046 710 1027
Oral health, tel. 046 710 1032
Mental health, tel. 046 710 10527Check out the current opening hours and read more about student healthcare and the FSHS’s services at fshs.fi.
Health and wellbeing instructions for students
Health and wellbeing instructions for students
The University of Helsinki has put together health and wellbeing instructions to help students in both common and uncommon problem situations.
Ask for a doctor’s note when visiting the doctor, just in case. You may need it for Kela, for instance, in case your sickness is prolonged and you have to suspend your studies because of it.
Health promotion
Health promotion
The most important task of the FSHS is promoting student health. The promotion work is planned together with students, universities and other interest groups in health expert groups. Issues concerning the students of the University of Helsinki are processed in two health expert groups, with one of the groups focusing on the health and wellbeing of students on the City Centre campus and the other on that of students in Kumpula, Viikki and Meilahti.
We represent you in the FSHS’s administration and health promotion work. The theme of the FSHS’s health promotion work in 2019–2020 is students’ nutrition.
Municipal healthcare
Municipal healthcare
Do you need acute treatment but the FSHS is closed? As a student, you are entitled to use the health centres of your municipality of residence or study. Municipal healthcare services are open around the clock.
Help for crisis situations
Study psychologists
Study psychologists are there for you when you need support in questions related to studying skills, motivation, time management or coping. Study psychologists offer both individual and group counselling to all basic degree students of the University of Helsinki.
Nyyti
Nyyti ry supports students’ mental wellbeing through peer support. The organisation provides students with an opportunity to talk about issues weighing on their mind using a discussion forum, a chat and various online groups.
In Nyyti’s group chat, you can exchange thoughts, share experiences and discuss various topics that concern student life. Occasionally, the chats have a preset theme, while at other times there is no particular theme. The chats are held every other Thursday at 6–8 pm.
University chaplains
Would you like to talk to someone? Are you troubled by thoughts of loneliness, the future or perhaps your study motivation? You can talk to the university chaplains about anything regardless of your beliefs. You can meet the chaplains when they are on call on different campuses or contact them to arrange an appointment.
Finnish Association for Mental Health
The Finnish Association for Mental Health provides help for crises you may have in your life. In acute situations, help is provided by the crisis helpline that you can call anonymously. The helpline has mental health professionals and trained volunteers on call. The Finnish Association for Mental Health also has peer support groups aimed especially at young people.
The Finnish Association for Mental Health’s crisis helpline (010 195 202) is open on weekdays at 9.00 am–7.00 am and on weekends and public holidays at 3.00 pm–7.00 am.
Sekasin chat
The Sekasin chat is a chat maintained by the Finnish Association for Mental Health. On the chat, you can discuss issues weighing on your mind anonymously with mental health professionals and trained volunteers. The chat is open on every day of the year, at 7 am–midnight from Monday to Friday and at 3 pm–midnight on Saturdays and Sundays. You can discuss any issue weighing on your mind on the chat.
Nuorten kriisipiste
Kriisipiste provides free and confidential discussion help with a crisis worker to 12–29-year-old young people, adults, couples and the families of young people. An on-call service is available at 9–11 am on Tue–Thu at Albertinkatu 33, while a phone service for counselling and making appointments (045 3410 583) is open at 9–11 am on Mon–Thu.
Harassment contact persons
Have you encountered harassment or other inappropriate treatment at the University? The University has three harassment contact persons you can turn to:
Timo Valtonen, timo.valtonen@helsinki.fi
Veli-Pekka Heiskanen, veli-pekka.heiskanen@helsinki.fi
Pirjo Kekäläinen, pirjo.kekalainen@helsinki.fiInappropriate treatment and harassment at the university
HYY also has two harassment contact persons who provide advice and support to students who have faced harassment, bullying, discrimination or other unequal treatment. You can contact the harassment contact persons even if you were not the target of harassment yourself but have witnessed harassment or would like to discuss possible ways to take action against it. The desire to discuss what you have experienced is reason enough to contact us! If needed, the harassment contact persons know who they can guide you to for additional help. You can reach the harassment contact persons at hairintayhdyshenkilo@hyy.fi, or you can contact them directly:
Juhani Turunen, 050 551 6146, juhani.turunen@hyy.fi
Hannele Kirveskoski, 050 543 9608, hannele.kirveskoski@hyy.fiRape Crisis Centre Tukinainen
Rape Crisis Centre Tukinainen provides support, help and advice to victims of sexual crimes, their families and those who work with victims regardless of gender. You can call its free crisis helpline (0800 97 899) at 9 am–5 pm on Mon–Thu and at 3–9 pm on Fri–Sun.
Women’s Line
Women’s Line (0800 0 2400) is a free helpline providing advice and support to women and girls who have experienced violence or the threat of violence as well as their families. All calls are confidential, and you can call the helpline anonymously. Advice in Finnish is available at 4–8 pm on Mon–Fri and at noon–4 pm on Sat–Sun, while help in English is available at 4–8 pm on Fridays. The chat is open at 5–7 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.