Promoting health and well-being

The promotion of health and well-being within the activities of wellbeing services counties and municipalities has developed in varying ways

Overall, municipal management has made progress in promoting health and well-being. The promotion of physical activity in municipalities has remained at nearly the same level as in previous years. In contrast, municipal cultural activities which enhance health and well-being have developed positively since 2019. Some advances had been achieved in work promoting health and well-being at schools. Positive developments were also observed in general upper secondary education and vocational upper secondary education. The level of health promotion activity varied between wellbeing services counties.

The data describes the health and well-being promotion work of organisations in a comparable way. It is intended to support the development, management, and evaluation of activities.

The situation regarding public health nurses and school social workers is at a good level, while there is room for improvement in doctors and psychologist resources

In 2023, there were significant differences between wellbeing services counties in the staffing levels of maternity and child health clinics, as well as student welfare services in basic education and upper secondary education. The differences were most evident in doctors resources and in the resourcing of school psychologists.

In a long-term perspective, the resources of all examined professional groups in maternity and child health clinics and student welfare services have improved.
Wellbeing services counties 

Wellbeing services counties have participated in municipalities’ health and well-being promotion work more commonly than before

In 2025, municipal leadership made overall positive progress in health promotion. For example, impact assessments were used more systematically than before in preparing committee decisions, and wellbeing services counties participated more commonly than previously in municipalities’ health and well-being promotion work.
Municipal management 

Participation has strengthened among upper secondary students

Student participation has strengthened in both general upper secondary schools and vocational upper secondary education. Students’ involvement in planning, developing, and evaluating the activities of the school community has become more common. In addition, measures that promote physical activity during school days have been increased at the upper secondary level.
Upper secondary education 

There are differences between comprehensive schools in the promotion of  health and well-being

The promotion of health and well-being in the school environment is an important cultural factor that supports learning.

Some progress has been achieved in work that promotes the health, well-being, and communal culture of schools, but there were still differences between schools. Although some positive development has taken place compared with the 2020–2021 school year during the COVID 19 period, there remains considerable room for improvement relative to the period before it.

Municipal cultural activities which enhance health and well-being have continued to develop in a positive direction

Arts and culture are increasingly integrated into municipalities’ work to promote well-being and health.

The tergets related to cultural activities in municipal well-being reports and plans continued to become more common in 2025. The inclusion of cultural activity targets in these reports and plans has increased significantly since 2019. Established cross-sectoral structures for cultural activities which enhance health and well-being have continued to strengthen in municipalities and wellbeing services counties.
Culture 

The number of personnel responsible for the administration and management of physical activity has increased in municipalities

Changes have occurred in the number of personnel responsible for the administration and management of physical activity compared with 2021. 

The largest change between 2021 and 2023 was in the number of sports instructor personnel. In 2023, the work contribution of sports instructor personnel (e.g., sports instructors and special sports instructors) in municipalities averaged 3.1 full-time equivalents per 10,000 inhabitants. Overall, municipal activities aimed at promoting physical activity among residents had remained at nearly the same level as in previous years in 2024.
Physical activity 

Key reporting services

TEAviisari
Sotkanet

Next publications on the topic 

The data is published according to the following regular cycle:

Odd-numbered years

• Spring (April–June): data is collected from municipal management and the culture. The data is updated in TEAviisari in the autumn.
• Autumn (October–December): data collection from comprehensive schools. The data is updated in TEAviisari in the spring.

Even-numbered years

• Spring (April–June): data is collected on physical activity and from wellbeing services counties. The data is updated in TEAviisari in the autumn.
• Autumn (October–December): data is collected from upper secondary schools and vocational upper secondary education. The data is updated in TEAviisari in the spring.

A link to the electronic data collection form is sent either in the spring (April) or in the autumn (October).