THL at SuomiAreena: Mental resilience is built in everyday life – at its core are trust and community

Publication date 24.6.2026 15.56 | Published in English on 26.6.2026 at 15.29
Type:News item

“In Finland’s comprehensive security, the key question is how we manage together – not just how I manage alone,” said Director General Otto Helve at SuomiAreena. Mental resilience is a central part of comprehensive security. It refers to the ability of individuals, communities and society to withstand the strain of crises and recover from their impacts.

Mental resilience was discussed at an invited event organised by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) at SuomiAreena on 24 June 2026. In her presentation, THL’s Leading Researcher Laura Kestilä emphasised that crises today are often prolonged, overlapping and evolving, which should also be taken into account in preparedness.

Resilience can be examined as baseline resilience and resilience in acute situations. Baseline resilience is the long-term capacity of society and individuals to cope with uncertainty and change. It is built, for example, through trust in institutions, functioning communities, education, a sense of security, and the experience that everyday life is predictable and meaningful.

“Baseline resilience forms the foundation on which acute resilience – the ability to respond to crises – rests,” says Laura Kestilä.

The overall picture of Finland’s resilience shows that people’s sense of security has weakened. Many indicators of economic wellbeing also show a decline, trust in basic public services has decreased over time, and the future outlook of young people and low-income groups has particularly diminished.

“These factors may weaken the population’s mental resilience,” Kestilä notes.

“The foundation of mental resilience is built in everyday life, and it is essential for maintaining functioning during a crisis. It also supports recovery from crises.”

Trust is a fundamental pillar of security

When discussing comprehensive security, the focus is often on structures. However, there is another underlying dimension: trust. This includes trust in institutions and authorities, in other people, and in the idea that society functions in a predictable and fair manner, even during disruptions.

Without trust, baseline resilience weakens: everyday life no longer sustains people, social cohesion and internal security erode, and the capacity to respond to crises slows down.

Trust is not a so-called soft add-on, but a prerequisite for the functioning and carrying capacity of the entire system. It builds slowly but can deteriorate quickly.

Mental resilience can be strengthened and developed

Mental resilience is one of society’s vital functions that underpin the implementation of the comprehensive security model (Security Strategy for Society 2025). However, its knowledge base and strategic coordination are currently fragmented.

Monitoring the population’s mental resilience should be established as a permanent function. This requires a monitoring and analytical model that combines, for example, survey data, register data, and data produced by authorities and research institutions. This need is also highlighted in THL’s government programme proposals.

Lessons from Ukraine should be utilised

At the SuomiAreena panel discussion, Roope Siirtola from the National Emergency Supply Agency, Sanna Vesikansa from MIELI Mental Health Finland, and MTV war correspondent Niko Nurminen discussed what should be considered in strengthening and maintaining mental resilience. The discussion emphasised trust in people and communities, but also raised concerns about insufficient provision of mental health care.

Niko Nurminen and Laura Kestilä brought perspectives from Ukraine. Efforts are made to maintain everyday life despite the war whenever possible: after air raid sirens and missile strikes, people return to work and school, and cafés and restaurants reopen.

“It is important that we monitor and study how resilience is built in societies living in the midst of acute crises. We can learn a great deal from the situation in Ukraine,” says Laura Kestilä.

Further information

Contact details

Otto Helve
Director General
Tel. +358 29 524 7711
Email: [email protected]

Laura Kestilä
Team Manager
Tel. +358 40 483 0990
Email: [email protected]
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