Work and Mental Wellbeing – Mieliteko 2.0
According to the statistics, as much as one half of the Finnish population suffers from a mental disorder at some point in their life. In 2019 mental health issues were the most common reason for early disability pensions in Northern Savonia. The number of persons receiving sick pay for mental disorders increased by 43 % from 2016 to 2019. Sick leaves caused by mental health reasons have become increasingly common especially with adolescents and early middle-aged women. According to OECD’s report (2018), the direct and indirect mental health costs of mental health issues are among the highest within the OECD countries.
The two-year period of the Mieliteko 1.0 programme continues with Mieliteko 2.0 programme. The first phase of the project clearly highlighted the need to support the mental well-being of working people. Mieliteko 2.0 consists of two projects: the Work and Mental Wellbeing and the Together for Inclusion sub-projects.
In the Work and Mental Wellbeing project, The city of Kuopio arranges comprehensive work wellbeing coaching and effective communication, while the University of Eastern Finland produces information on mental health management , implements the pilot of an ABC program of improving mental wellbeing with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). Savonia University of Applied Sciences’ speciality is in trauma awareness approach. Humak University of Applied Sciences focuses on Precision Working Ability Coaching.
Instead of focusing on the deficits and limitations of a person’s partial work capacity, the focus at precision working ability coaching is on the strengths and skills of the employee. Work communities and environments are at the heart of the coaching. Together with management, supervisors and employees, we identify problems, develop solutions and focus on ways to prevent reduced working capacity. At its core, the method is dialogical, i.e. the group works together to identify issues and work towards solutions.
Objectives
The aim of the Work and Mental Wellbeing – Mieliteko 2.0 group project is to improve the mental health and mental wellbeing of the working age inhabitants in Northern Savonia from the standpoint of work wellbeing. Thus, the project partakes in resolving Northern Savonia’s abnormally high mental health morbidity, the highest in the country.The target group of the project comprises of the employed Northern Savonian inhabitants, who are 18 years of age or older. The target group includes those partly fit for work, as well as private and public employers. In other words, workplaces of the employees.
In the Work and Mental Wellbeing group project, Humak implements the Precision Working Ability Coaching, which targets management, supervisors and employees. The aim of the coaching is to create work communities that prevent the loss of working capacity and support mental well-being. The coaching supports and develops work communities, work environments and social relationships in order to prevent and reduce the stress factors that can lead to disability and sickness absence.
| Duration (päivämäärinä): | 01.01.2024 – 30.06.2026 |
| Project manager: | Milla Lähdeniemi |
| Email: | milla.lahdeniemi@humak.fi |
| Partners: | City of Kuopio, University of Eastern Finland, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, |
| Funder: | EU: ESR+ -rahoitus |
| Budget: | > 100 000 – 300 000 euroa |
