In Finland, municipalities, wellbeing services counties, and NGOs provide local help and services for people who have experienced violence, ranging from counselling to advice and violence prevention. Wellbeing services counties offer various public and third-sector services, whose contact information is available on local websites. In addition to basic social and health care services, public services offering help include Seri Support Centres, family counselling, and social and crisis emergency services.
Help is also available from many parishes and church family counselling services (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland).
Counselling (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland)
Many crisis centres run by MIELI Mental Health Finland and member associations of the Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters provide locally open services for people who have experienced violence.
Support at MIELI Crisis Centres (Mieli.fi)
Services (Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters)
In addition, assistance is available from the police, and in an acute emergency, always call 112.
Nationwide services for people who have experienced domestic violence
Below is a list of nationwide services for people who have experienced domestic violence. The most up-to-date information on services is available on the services’ own websites.
- Shelter services (Nollalinja.fi)
Contact information for all shelters in Finland is available here. No referral is needed for a shelter. Shelters are state-funded and free of charge for clients. Shelters operate as a network, and a client can go to any shelter regardless of their municipality of residence. - Nollalinja (Nollalinja.fi)
Free 24/7 helpline (tel. 116 016) and chat for people who have experienced domestic violence and violence against women. Nollalinja can also be contacted by family members, professionals, and authorities who need advice for client work or information about services related to violence in different regions. - Support Center Varjo (VIOLA – väkivallasta vapaaksi ry)
National provider of information, guidance, counselling, and discussion-based support related to post-separation violence and stalking for all parties involved. Meetings are available nationwide via remote connections. - Suvantolinja (in Finnish, Suvanto ry)
National helpline for older people. Suvantolinja helps all parties affected by violence. - Online Shelter, chat (Nettiturvakoti.fi)
Chat service helps all parties affected by violence. - “Onks ok” chat (in Finnish, Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters)
Chat for 7–18-year-olds. Provides discussion-based support in situations related to violence. - DIDAR (Setlementti Tampere)
Provides discussion-based support for conflicts arising from honour-related norms and situations involving honour-related violence or its threat. DIDAR is part of the Violence and Crisis Intervention Unit of Setlementti Tampere ry. - Crisis Center Monika (Monika-Naiset liitto ry)
Free nationwide helpline (0800 05058) and chat. Language options and opening hours are available on Monika’s website. - Naisten Linja - Women’s Line (Naistenlinja.fi)
Provides help and support for women and girls of all ages who have experienced violence or its threat, respecting self-identification, as well as their loved ones. Contact Women’s Line by calling 0800 02400, via chat, or by booking an appointment. - Miessakit ry (Miessakit.fi)
A service where men who have experienced violence can discuss their situation. Support is available by phone, email, individual meetings (face-to-face or online), and guided peer group meetings. - Nuorten Exit (in Finnish, Nuortenexit.fi)
Provides information and support for situations involving sexual violence and harassment for young people aged 13–29, their loved ones, and professionals working with young people. - Rape Crisis Center Tukinainen (Tukinainen.fi)
Support, help, and counselling for victims of sexual crimes regardless of gender, their loved ones, and professionals working with victims. - Victim Support Finland (Riku.fi)
Through Victim Support Finland (RIKU) service points, victims of crime receive help and support during the criminal process. - SOPU (Soputila.fi)
SOPU work helps in honour-related crises and conflict situations.
Below is a list of national services as well as services located in different wellbeing services counties for individuals who have used domestic violence or are at risk of doing so.
Public services (such as adult social work) are included in the listing when the service has been specifically mentioned in connection with the support offered for domestic violence on the wellbeing services county’s website, or when the service generally provides support for perpetrators of violence. The most up-to-date information on services is available on the services’ own websites.
In addition to the listed services, some family counselling units of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland also work with perpetrators of domestic violence. The family counselling available at churches does not require the client to be a member of the church. Please note that a perpetrator of domestic violence should preferably be referred to individual work rather than couples therapy.
Contact information of family counselling (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, in Finnish)
Services offered to perpetrators of domestic violence are based on voluntariness, meaning the client’s own willingness to participate in the process. If necessary, you can use techniques such as motivational interviewing during discussions related to service referral.
Motivational interviewing (in Finnish)
National services related to domestic violence
- Support Centre Varjo (VIOLA – Free from Violence Association)
National provider of information, guidance, counselling, and discussion-based support related to post-separation violence and stalking for all parties involved. Meetings are available nationwide via remote connections. - Lyömätön linja (Miessakit)
For men (respecting self-identification) who have used, or fear they might use, domestic violence. Nationwide access to phone or online meetings. - Violence Prevention (Maria Akatemia)
For women (respecting self-identification) who have used, or fear they might use, violence. Nationwide chat and helpline. - Suvantolinja (Suvanto Association, in Finnish)
Nationwide helpline for older people. Suvantolinja supports all parties affected by violence. - Online Shelter, Chat (Nettiturvakoti.fi)
Chat service for all parties affected by violence. - “Onks ok” Chat (Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters)
Chat service for young people aged 7–18. Offers discussion-based support, including for those worried about their own behaviour in a relationship. - SOPU (Soputila.fi)
SOPU work provides help in crises and conflict situations related to honour. - DIDAR (Setlementti Tampere)
Offers discussion-based support for conflicts arising from honour-related norms and for situations where honour-related violence or its threat has been identified. DIDAR is part of the Violence and Crisis Intervention Unit of Setlementti Tampere Association.