The prevalence of mental illnesses in Finland generally reflects global trends, with a clear increase in the occurrence of depression and anxiety. At any time, between 4% and 9% of the population of 5.2 million suffer from major depressive disorders. Some 10–20% of the population experience depression during their lifetime. Bipolar depressive disorders affect 1–2% and schizophrenia 0.5–1.5% of the population. The prevalence of alcoholism is 4–8%.

The incidence of depression has increased over the past 15 years, in part reflecting better diagnostic practices and more widespread antidepressant treatment but also the altered living and psychosocial environment. Depression has been a growing cause of sickness absenteeism and work disability pensions – although the overall level of work disability has dropped.

Stress and burnout are common among employees, and are experienced in some form by over 50% of the workforce. The recession of the 1990s, the subsequent changes in the labour market, job insecurity and persistent longterm unemployment are all part of the national context for increasing mental ill health, although mental health trends parallel those of other countries. There is also concern about the growing extent of psychosocial problems among children and young people.

Policy, programmes and preventive work

Finland deployed the first comprehensive national suicide prevention programme between 1986 and 1996. There have since been several other national programmes to develop preventive and early intervention measures in mental health. They include the National Depression Programme, Mental Health in Primary Services, and the Meaningful Life, Early Interaction and the Effective Family programmes. A mental health policy was initially formulated in 1993. It focused on advocacy, promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Part of the mental health policy has been the de-institutionalisation of psychiatric care. A substance misuse policy was initially formulated in 1997.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health produced quality guidelines for mental health services in 2001 and is working on quality guidelines for supportive housing for people with mental health problems. The government has also adopted a Drug Policy Action Programme for 2004–07. The national Alcohol Programme was launched in 2004. Comprehensive quality guidelines for health promotion at the local level are in preparation, linked with the updating of the Primary Healthcare Act.