People seeking support face increasingly difficult situations: MIELI increases the number of crisis workers for the summer

Between January and May 2026, nearly 30,000 conversations took place through the MIELI Crisis Helpline, nine per cent fewer than during the same period last year. The number of contacts has levelled off after the exceptional years, but crisis conversations have become more challenging than before. Young people are also calling in large numbers. 

“We can hear that people’s situations are becoming more difficult. For example, suicidal thoughts have been discussed on the MIELI Crisis Helpline in an average of 20 conversations per day this year. Of these situations, 3–4 have been acute. In almost every case, the caller’s situation calms down when they receive timely conversational support,” says Susanna Winter, Head of Telephone and Online Crisis Work. 

Distress is also clearly visible online: attempted contacts to the MIELI Crisis Chat have increased by almost 70 per cent compared to the previous year, and contacts involving suicidal thoughts have risen significantly. 

Fortunately, donations have made it possible to increase summer shifts. Crisis workers have been recruited to provide extra support during peak times in as many as 11 locations around Finland, which will help shorten queues. 

“Thanks to our donors, more people are reaching a crisis worker faster than before, both in the MIELI Crisis Chat and on the MIELI Crisis Helpline. This increases hope, which is important for everyone’s ability to cope,” Winter says. 

The threat of war is a topic of concern 

A drone warning in May caused some people to fear that the war might spread to Finland. The MIELI Crisis Helpline was ready to respond to these concerns immediately in the early hours of the morning, serving as an immediate safety net for people in a sudden and unsettling situation. 

According to Sanna Vesikansa, Director of Crisis Services at MIELI, low-threshold crisis support is a key part of Finland’s comprehensive security and people’s resilience. Resilience, or psychological crisis resilience, refers to the ability to endure difficult times, maintain the ability to function and trust in the future. 

Vesikansa stresses that without psychological resilience, material preparedness has little meaning. 

“The swift, low-threshold crisis support provided by MIELI strengthens people’s sense of safety and their trust in society,” Vesikansa says. 

Feedback from callers also shows that people seek support from the MIELI Crisis Helpline to process the wartime situation in the world. 

“It is difficult to talk about fear of war with people close to me. Thank you for listening to me,” one caller said at the end of a conversation. 

The Finnish-language line of the MIELI Crisis Helpline is open around the clock throughout the summer at +358 9 2525 0111. The Swedish-language Kristelefon line and the MIELI Crisis Chat are also open as usual. In addition, crisis reception services across Finland will serve people throughout the summer. People can seek help anonymously and without a referral. MIELI does not charge for crisis support.

Support and help available in English

• Remote appointments via phone, video or chat
• MIELI Crisis Chat: Appointment-based chat service.
• MIELI Crisis Email: Short-term written assistance in a crisis or other difficult life situations where a single conversation may not be enough. 
• Live appointments available at MIELI Crisis Centre Helsinki in Swedish, English and in other languages through an interpreter.