Primary health care is providing mental health support and treatment to a growing number of young people
During 2023, approximately 1.5 million mental health–related diagnostic and treatment visits were reported among 7–22 year olds in public health care. The visits concerned around 175,000 children and young people.
During the year, approximately 6,500 children and young people received mental health–related inpatient care.
| Age group | Percentage of the age group with at least one visit | Visits | Change in the number of visits since 2020 | Proportion of visits in psychiatric care |
|---|---|---|---|---|
7–12‑ year‑olds |
12 % | 300 000 | +14 % | 61 % |
13-17 - |
19 % | 560 000 | +21 % | 57 % |
| 18-22 - year-olds |
24 % | 600 000 | +17 % | 44 % |
The number of patients with recorded mental health–related diagnostic and treatment visits was 57 percent higher in primary health care than in specialised health care.
However, the number of visits in specialised health care was 11 percent higher than in primary health care. The average number of visits within psychiatric specialties (median of 8 visits) was higher than in primary health care (median of 2 visits).
The numbers of patients and visits in primary health care have increased substantially since 2015. Since 2020, the number of recorded mental health–related diagnostic or treatment visits in primary health care has increased by 18 percent, while the number of patients has risen by 44 percent.
Mental health–related visits were more common among children and young people placed in out-of-home care than among other children and young people.
Regional differences in service use were substantial. Welfare services county–level data are available in the statistical report’s online appendix tables (in Finnish).
| Age at the end of the year | Mental health visit, boys | Primary healthcare, boys | Specialised psychiatric care, boys | Mental health visit, girls | Primary healthcare, girls | Specialised psychiatric care, girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% |
| 1 | 3% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% |
| 2 | 2% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 0% |
| 3 | 3% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 1% |
| 4 | 4% | 5% | 0% | 3% | 3% | 1% |
| 5 | 8% | 4% | 2% | 4% | 4% | 1% |
| 6 | 10% | 9% | 2% | 6% | 5% | 1% |
| 7 | 9% | 9% | 2% | 7% | 5% | 2% |
| 8 | 11% | 10% | 5% | 7% | 5% | 2% |
| 9 | 11% | 10% | 5% | 7% | 5% | 2% |
| 10 | 11% | 10% | 5% | 8% | 6% | 2% |
| 11 | 11% | 11% | 6% | 15% | 11% | 6% |
| 12 | 11% | 11% | 6% | 15% | 11% | 6% |
| 13 | 11% | 11% | 6% | 16% | 11% | 6% |
| 14 | 11% | 11% | 6% | 19% | 11% | 7% |
| 15 | 11% | 11% | 5% | 24% | 19% | 10% |
| 16 | 11% | 11% | 5% | 27% | 21% | 12% |
| 17 | 14% | 11% | 5% | 30% | 21% | 12% |
| 18 | 16% | 14% | 5% | 30% | 24% | 16% |
| 19 | 16% | 14% | 5% | 30% | 24% | 16% |
| 20 | 16% | 14% | 5% | 30% | 24% | 16% |
| 21 | 18% | 16% | 5% | 34% | 30% | 9% |
| 22 | 18% | 16% | 5% | 34% | 30% | 9% |
Explore the Statistical Data
Backround information
Source
Mental health–based examination and treatment visit in healthcare, 2023, Statistical report 11/2025, 26.3.2025 (in Finnish)
Description of the statistics
The statistics examine mental health–related diagnostic and treatment visits among children and young people in primary health care and specialised health care. The statistical data include information from THL’s health care registers on visits that contained a record related to mental health–based examination or treatment.
The appendix tables of the statistics provide opportunities to support service planning in the wellbeing services counties and to improve the data base.
Update schedule
Statistics for 2024 will be published during 2026.
The more exact publication time can be found in the publication calendar.
Publication calendar for statistics
Contact details
Chief Specialist
tel. 029 524 7974
[email protected]
Senior Planning Officer
tel. +358 029 524 8130
[email protected]