Most Finns experience their lives as safe and trust societal actors and those close to them, but trust in, for example, the social and health care system has weakened in recent years, according to the Well-being Review published by THL.
A crisis-resilient society is built on people who are well, adaptable and supportive of one another, as well as on systems that strengthen the population’s health and wellbeing.
According to the Wellbeing Review 2025 report published by THL, most people in Finland consider their lives safe and trust societal institutions and those close to them. However, trust in areas such as political decision-making and the healthcare system has weakened in recent years. Feelings of insecurity have also become more common, particularly among older people.
“Trust lies at the core of both social sustainability and psychological crisis resilience. In Finland, trust remains at a high level by international comparison. However, this foundation is at risk of eroding if inequality and social exclusion increase,” says Research Professor Laura Kestilä.
Living conditions must be in place
The Wellbeing Review includes 116 practical public policy recommendations to address current challenges in wellbeing and health and to strengthen social sustainability.
The report emphasises that wellbeing is most effectively supported by ensuring that living conditions, services and everyday security are in place.
Among the proposed measures is the need to assess changes to social security as a whole, examining how these changes affect families and society at large.
In addition, concrete actions are needed to prevent obesity by making healthy choices easier and more accessible. The report recommends health-based pricing policies, community structures that support walking and cycling, and ensuring adequate resources for public food services.
If the increase in obesity can be halted, EUR 1.5 billion can be saved in healthcare and prescription medicine costs among the adult population over a ten-year period.
Explore the population health and well-being review in Julkari
Social assistance in the 2020s: towards a better last-resort safety net
The report prepared by THL provides a comprehensive information package on social assistance, its need, recipients, and its role as part of Finland’s social security system. The report also includes several proposals for reforming the last-resort safety net over the coming years. If implemented, the proposals would improve the position of social assistance recipients, reduce the number of people receiving assistance, and ease administrative burden.
Adequacy of basic social security 2023–2025: Mid-term review of the government term
The adequacy of basic social security has weakened in 2024–2025, particularly among unemployed families with children, according to THL’s mid-term review of basic social security. This development is driven by government cuts to social security. At the same time, the importance of the last-resort safety net, social assistance, has increased. By law, the adequacy of basic social security must be assessed every four years. Due to the numerous changes to social security, THL exceptionally conducted a mid-term review during the government term.
Guide for promoting equality
The guide provides wellbeing services counties with information and tools to promote equality and gender equality. Systematic promotion of equality helps prevent discrimination. In addition, it improves the effectiveness, accessibility, timeliness, and targeting of services, especially for people who need services the most.
Diverse problems in the family increase risk of drug-induced deaths among young people – placement in out-of-home care may protect some young people
Young people’s drug-related deaths and overdoses (non-fatal poisonings) are significantly more common among young people who have experienced diverse problems, such as a parent’s substance use or mental disorders or long-term financial difficulties in their childhood home.