Study: People treated in specialised healthcare for mental health and substance use problems receive supplementary social assistance clearly more often

Serious health problems, especially severe mental health and substance use problems, are associated with receiving supplementary social assistance among people aged 25–64, according to a recent THL study.

In addition to mental health and substance use disorders, the study examined the association between physical health problems and receiving supplementary social assistance. Physical health problems were also associated with receiving the benefit, but the association was clearly weaker than that for mental health and substance use problems.

“According to the results, the strongest association with receiving supplementary social assistance was found in substance use disorders. People who had visited specialised healthcare due to a substance use disorder were 10–30 times more likely to receive supplementary social assistance than other working-age people. Other mental and behavioural disorders were also very clearly associated with receiving the benefit,” says Visiting Researcher Niina Tanner from THL.

The register-based study data consisted of approximately 2.8 million people aged 25–64 living in Finland. The data are from 2021.

Health problems were defined based on visits to specialised healthcare

In the study, serious health problems were defined based on the use of specialised healthcare services. A person had to have at least one visit during the year to specialised healthcare where the primary reason for the visit was a mental health, substance-related or physical health problem. Secondary diagnoses were not examined.

Previous studies in Finland and abroad have shown that people receiving social assistance generally have poorer health than the rest of the population. However, earlier studies have not distinguished between different forms of social assistance.

In Finland, Kela grants basic social assistance, and at the beginning of 2023 responsibility for granting preventive and supplementary social assistance was transferred from municipalities to the wellbeing services counties.

A wellbeing services county may grant supplementary social assistance if a person has expenses arising from special needs that are not covered by Kela’s basic social assistance.
According to Tanner, the study results highlight the importance of preventive services in the treatment of these illnesses.

“People with serious health problems are in a particularly vulnerable position. Wellbeing services counties should ensure that these people have access to mental health and substance use services that meet their individual needs. In addition, their adequate livelihood to support rehabilitation should be secured.”

The article was published in the Journal of Social Medicine.

Rekisteritutkimus vakavien terveysongelmien yhteydestä täydentävän toimeentulotuen saantiin (in Finnish, abstract in English)

Further information:

Niina Tanner
Visiting Researcher
THL
niina.tanner(at)thl.fi
Tel. +358 50 455 2643