Students' health and well-being

The Finnish Student Health Service FSHS (Ylioppilaiden Terveydenhoitosäätiö, YTHS in Finnish) provides preventive health care, general and special medical care, mental health care and dental care for university students in 16 towns and cities. The service is financed by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, the student unions, municipalities and the state of Finland. FSHS is a non-profit organisation.

After paying the Student Union Membership Fee, undergraduate and graduate students are entitled to use the services offered by the 16 FSHS health centres throughout the country. To use these services, the student must have a valid Student Union ID card (the Lyyra Card). All centres offer a variety of medical aid and health care services including dental services, but not hospital treatment. NB! From 1.8.2009 onwards postgraduate (PhD) students are no longer entitled to use the services of FSHS.

See the FSHS homepage for more information and for the services in Helsinki region.

NYYTI r.y. - Students' Support Centre

Nyyti r.y. is a student association with a goal of promoting mental well-being of students with a variety or services. Nyyti offers Internet Discussion Groups and also arranges theme evenings and special groups on issues that cause the students anxiety, tension or stress in studies and in life in general.

For more information - in Finnish, see Nyyti r.y. Web pages.

Study Psychologists

The work of the Study Psychologist can be seen as a mixture of counselling given in faculties and the mental health services of the Finnish Student Health Service (see above). The goal is to form a support network for students during their academic career. The psychologists address the issues concerning study skills, motivation, time management, difficulties in the progress of studies as well as problems in writing the thesis – and in many other issues concerning learning and studying environment.

Study Psychologists offer both group and individual counselling. Group counselling is planned and arranged in co-operation with the faculties and departments. Students learn more about the services on the Alma intranet.

University Chaplain

The University Chaplain, working in the Parish Union of Helsinki (the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland), also offers a helping hand to students in various issues concerning life and studies. The Chaplain has consultation hours twice a week in the City Centre and Viikki Campuses.