Press releases and news

The activities of wellbeing services counties are still not fully in compliance with legislation, but there are fewer and fewer deviations. Every six months, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) monitors the fulfilment of child welfare services in wellbeing services counties in terms of processing times and staffing levels.

Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest global health threats. It makes infections harder to treat and increases mortality. The situation in Finland is good, but maintaining it requires action and raising awareness about combating antibiotic resistance.

The training program organized by THL to strengthen anti-racist practices in the workplace has concluded. The accelerator training brought together 28 organizations from various sectors across Finland to explore proactive measures for preventing racism and eliminating its impacts in their own workplaces. THL and the participating organizations remain committed to promoting anti-racist approaches within their organizations and in working life more broadly.

The Health and Wellbeing of Finnish Prisoners (Wattu IV) 2023 study has received the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) Research Award for 2025.

According to a recent survey, the most common reason for hesitation about having more children is coping as a parent. Factors that increased the desire for children included trust in the future, sufficient income, and positive birth experiences.

The wellbeing services counties have achieved a better balance in their finances and found new ways of securing their services in a difficult situation, explains the annual assessment of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) on the organisation of healthcare and social welfare services. 

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is preparing the first of its kind ethical guidelines specifically for research concerning Roma people. The aim of the guidelines is to strengthen the community-based approach in research ethics and to build trust between researchers and the Roma community.

A recent study found that mould damage in school buildings does not increase the risk of asthma among students. The study included 110 Finnish primary and secondary schools, and the health of 30,000 students was tracked using national health registers over a 16-year period.

Cancer is one of Europe’s major public health challenges, but statistics vary widely between countries. Accurate and comparable data are essential for monitoring the cancer burden.

According to recent results of the School Health Promotion study 2025, most children and young people can discuss their personal matters with their parents often or fairly often. Support from adults is needed for health-promoting lifestyles as only a small proportion of children and young people both have breakfast and exercise and sleep enough. Alcohol consumption and smoking have continued to decrease, but there has been a significant increase in the use of nicotine pouches.

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed several shortcomings in the European Union’s crisis preparedness. There were deficiencies in the availability of medical supplies, weaknesses in crisis management, and problems in coordination between Member States. In addition, the war in Ukraine, CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) threats, and the impacts of climate change further highlight the need to strengthen the EU’s preparedness in the security and health sectors.

It is safe to swim at public beaches in Finland. Most of Finnish bathing waters, about 93 per cent, were classified as being of excellent or good quality. This is one percentage point less than in the previous monitoring period. This information is available in the European Environment Agency’s recently published bathing water quality report.

THL has recommended the dtap vaccination providing protection against whooping cough (pertussis) in pregnancy since last August because of an increase in the number of whooping cough cases. As from 1 July, the vaccination will be included in the national vaccination programme for them.

According to a recent assessment, a large-scale outbreak of avian influenza on fur farms in Finland is unlikely. However, if an outbreak were to occur, it would pose a moderate health risk to individuals working with fur animals. The risk can be mitigated through proper disease prevention measures on fur farms, adherence to the protection instructions issued for farm workers, and with vaccinations.

According to THL’s recent statistics, the number of clients in shelters for victims of domestic violence continued to increase last year, like it has done in the two previous years. In 2024, shelters had more than 5,800 clients, which is eight per cent more than in the previous year.

The risk test for chronic diseases has been published online. The test provides a quick and easy way to assess one’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and/or memory disorders. The test was developed by THL and the Finnish Diabetes Association.

Alpha-PVP ("peukku") is increasingly used especially in the vicinity of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. However, regional differences are significant, and its use is strongly concentrated in Southern and Southwest Finland. THL’s recent wastewater study indicates that the amphetamine and cocaine consumption volumes measured in 2024 are also among the highest ever measured in many cities and surroundings.

In morbidity, the latest results of the National Health Index reveal the most significant regional differences in alcohol-related diseases, and in incapacity for work, the differences are greatest in access to vocational rehabilitation.

The number of open care clients in child welfare has begun to decline. In 2024, there were 34,900 children as open care clients in child welfare, a decrease of 9 per cent from 2023. 

Two out of three higher education students wish to have children in the future, men slightly more frequently than women. Women’s wishes of having children have decreased in recent years. These results were obtained in the Finnish Student Health and Wellbeing Survey (KOTT) conducted by THL in the spring of 2024.