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1. Main trends in the health conditions of young people

2. Main concepts

Main trends in the health conditions of young people

National surveys

The health status of young people is assessed through national surveys. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is responsible for the School Health Promotion study, which has been conducted biannually since 1996, as well as the National Birth Cohort 1987 and 1997 studies (in Finnish), which focus on all children born in Finland in 1987 and 1997 and their biological parents (228,009 persons).

The State Youth Council and the Finnish Youth Research Society publish the Finnish Youth Barometer, which gathers and presents data on youth-related themes, including health and wellbeing. In 2015 (English abstract), wellbeing was one of the Youth Barometer’s main themes. In 2020 (English infographics), the Barometer collected data on service experiences (e.g., mental health and substance abuse services), and the 2022 Youth Barometer (English infographics) focused on resilience and gathered data on feelings of insecurity regarding one’s health. 

The following sub-chapters outline changes in the physical and mental health and wellbeing of young people. It should be noted that in the 2019 publication by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Child’s Time: Towards a National Strategy for Children 2040 (including measures regarding young people), it is emphasised that health-related issues are intertwined with other accumulated challenges in families.

Mental health and suicide prevention

There has been growing concern regarding the increase in mental health challenges and loneliness experienced by young people. According to the School Health Promotion study, approximately 30% of girls experienced moderate or severe anxiety in 2021, compared to 20% in 2019. Among 8th and 9th graders, 53% of girls and 17% of boys have been worried about their mood during the past year. 

National birth cohort studies have revealed that the proportion of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental diagnoses has increased among 12–18-year-olds when comparing the 1987 and 1997 cohorts. Girls have received more diagnoses than boys. The proportion of psychiatric medication users has also increased. This rise in mental health disorders is partly explained by improved identification, reduced stigma around disorders and help-seeking, and expanded examinations in school health care. 

According to Statistics Finland, suicide is one of the main causes of death among young people. A 2023 article (in Finnish) by Mental Health Finland (MIELI) reports that the suicide rate among young people increased in 2023 compared to 2022. Improving the mental health of children and youth in everyday life and preventing suicide are key objectives of the Finnish Government’s 2025 decision-in-principle Promoting Mental Health (in Finnish). The actions support the goals set by the National Mental Health Strategy and Programme for Suicide Prevention 2020–2030.

Obesity

According to THL’s webpage, Obesity, among ‘young adults under 30, at least 35% of women and almost half of men are overweight. 19% of women and 17% of men in the same age group are obese.’ Regarding youth, one central document is the THL’s latest statistical report, Overweight and obesity among children and adolescents 2023: One in every four boys and one in every five girls is overweight or obese – actions required for promoting the healthy growth of children (in Finnish). The figure (see page 3, in Finnish) in THL’s longitudinal study enables recognition of slight increases, decreases, or stagnation in the rates of overweight and obese children between 2014–2023.

Physical activity

While some studies indicate that young people’s physical activity has been observed to increase, other reports argue that Finnish children do not exercise enough. For more information, YouthWiki/Finland: 7.3 Sport, youth fitness and physical activity. 

Substance abuse

AddictionLink is an online service providing information about substance abuse and addiction. It is produced by the A-Clinic Foundation and supported by the Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health Organisations (STEA). 

According to the 2019 ESPAD (European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs) survey, 13% of 15–16-year-old boys and 9% of girls have tried cannabis, the most popular illegal drug in Finland, at some point in their lives. Among university students, trying and using drugs became more common between 2000 and 2008 (increasing from 20–24%), but has since then returned to the previous level. 

According to the 2023 THL report, Drug abuse and drug-related attitudes 2022: Finnish people’s drug experiments becoming more common, significant changes in attitudes and opinions (in Finnish), drug abuse has become more common in Finland since the 1990s. Currently, drug experimentation is most common among young adults aged 25–34. Among 15-24-year-olds, drug abuse has increased moderately: in 2002, 26% of individuals in this age group had used a drug during their lifetime, compared to 27% in 2018. The 2023 School Health Promotion Study provides similar results, indicating that the proportion of young people who have tried cannabis has not changed significantly across different target groups during 2006–2023. Drinking and regular smoking have generally decreased among young people (School Health Promotion Study 2023). 

Main concepts

There are no specific concepts related to wellbeing and health in Finland that differ significantly from those in the broader European context.