Upward trend in outpatient numbers in psychiatric specialised health care in 2024
In 2024, a total of 216,000 patients were treated in specialised psychiatric care. The number of outpatients increased compared to 2023, which was largely due to the improved coverage of private sector data in outpatient care.
Increase in the number of short care periods in inpatient care
In 2024, the number of patients in inpatient wards remained almost unchanged compared to 2023. Approximately 22,600 patients were treated in inpatient wards in 2024.
However, the number of completed care periods increased by roughly two per cent, totalling around 40,500 periods in 2024.
A clear structural shift towards shorter care periods can be observed in inpatient care. In particular, the proportion of care periods lasting less than one week has increased, reflecting a shift in the focus of treatment and a general transition toward shorter interventions.
Men are most commonly placed in inpatient care due to psychotic disorders, women due to depression and anxiety disorders
The most common reasons for inpatient care varied according to gender.
For working-aged men, severe psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia formed a common reason for inpatient care. Consequently, there were more men than women in inpatient care in this age group. In total, men accounted for approximately 45 per cent of all patients treated in inpatient wards.
In turn, depression and anxiety disorders were emphasised as the cause of inpatient care in young women (aged 13–24).
Mood disorders are most common primary diagnosis in outpatient care
The majority of psychiatric specialised health care services are provided as outpatient care. In 2024, there were around 213,000 patients in outpatient care and approximately 2.3 million other contacts.
The number of patients in public outpatient care decreased by just under two per cent from 2023. The statistics show an increase of around six per cent in the number of outpatients. This is primarily due to the improved coverage of private sector data in 2024 compared to 2023.
The most common primary diagnosis in outpatient care in 2024 was mood disorders (F30–F39). The second-most common group comprised neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (F40–F48).
Women accounted for almost 60 per cent of all outpatients, which is partly explained by the emphasis on outpatient care in the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders, which are most common in women.
Significant regional differences in service use
There is considerable variation in the use of services between the wellbeing services counties.
The number of inpatients in relation to the population was highest in the wellbeing services county of North Karelia (approximately 70 patients per 10,000 inhabitants) and lowest in the wellbeing services county of East Uusimaa (around 30 patients per 10,000 inhabitants).
In outpatient care, the highest number of patients in relation to the population was recorded in the wellbeing services county of Lapland at around 600 patients per 10,000 inhabitants.
More boys than girls in child psychiatric services
Boys (0–12 years) exhibit more childhood disorders than girls, including autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. For this reason, boys form a larger proportion of patients in this age group.
Database reports display the key visit and client information as numerical data extracted from the registry.
Cubes offer the most versatile options for choosing the analytical perspective and filtering data with various constraints from the registry.
- Specialised psychiatric care by service provider (in Finnish)
- Specialised psychiatric care by region (in Finnish)
- Specialised psychiatric care for children and young people by service provider (in Finnish)
- Specialised psychiatric care for children and young people by region (in Finnish)
- Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the foreign-born population in 2016–2020 (in Finnish
- Procedures in inpatient care in somatic and psychiatric specialised health care and in primary health care by wellbeing services county (in Finnish)
- Primary, secondary and long-term diagnoses of inpatients in somatic and psychiatric specialised health care and in primary health care by wellbeing services county (Hilmo) (in Finnish)
Background information
- Statistical quality report (in Finnish)
- Privacy notice (in Finnish)
- Data description (Data resources catalogue)
- Instructions for submitting data (in Finnish)
Source
Specialised psychiatric care 2024
Statistical report 61/2025, 18 December 2025.
Official statistics of Finland, Specialised psychiatric care. THL.
Description of the statistics
The statistics on psychiatric specialised health care cover treatment events that have taken place in Finland during the year in specialised psychiatric inpatient care and outpatient care. The statistical population consists of all persons who have used the services in question during the year.
This statistical data focuses only on specialised psychiatric care. The statistics do not cover mental health work included in primary health care, which accounts for a significant part of the overall services. To gain an overall view of the topic, it is recommended to also examine the data concerning primary health care.
The statistics are based on THL’s Care Register for Health Care (Hilmo).
Update schedule
The statistical report is updated once a year, while the statistical cubes are updated several times a year.
The more exact publication time can be found in the publication calendar.
Publication calendar for statistics
Contact details
Senior Specialist
tel. 029 524 7832
[email protected]
terveyshilmo(at)thl.fi