The study also found a sharp drop in the quality of life of working-age people, as the proportion of those who rated their quality of life as good has fallen by more than 10 percentage points to just under 50 percent since 2018.
Even more worrying is that suicidal thoughts have increased among people under the age of 50. The proportion of working-age people with suicidal thoughts has risen from 10 percent to 12.5 percent.
Annamarie LundqvistAccording to the researcher in charge of THL’s research, the results are alarming from the point of view of social and economic sustainability.
“There have already been indications of a deterioration in the well-being of working-age people, but its clear demonstration in the form of a deterioration in the quality of life and an increase in suicidal thoughts is really alarming,” he stated in the press release. YLE interview on Wednesday.
The reason for the development is the subject of extensive debate, but no definitive answers have been received yet.
“I am sure that we will see the after-effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Global issues such as the war-related crisis, inflation, climate change can also have an impact. You could say the accumulation of crises, Lundqvist analyzed.
The proportion of respondents who have used health services for mental health problems has also increased in the last couple of years, from 15% to 20% for women and from 9% to 12% for men.
Almost 62,000 people aged 20–64 from different parts of the survey were randomly invited to the survey. Less than half of them, or 46 percent, answered the survey between September 2022 and March 2023.
Many of them estimate that there are not enough doctor’s appointments available and that the accessibility of health services has weakened.
Estimates of availability and availability of services varied by region. According to the answers, the most challenging situation is in North Karelia, Central Uusimaa and Kainuu, where more than 30 percent of residents felt that they had no need to receive a doctor’s services.
“The new welfare service provinces are in a tough starting position to which they must respond. The adverse development is probably the result of several factors, such as the health care backlog caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the delay in the implementation of the social and health reform, and the shortage of personnel. In Finland, less money is spent on health care than in Western Europe. stated Anna-Mari AaltoSenior expert at THL.
“There is no single solution to a multifaceted situation.”
Despite the regional differences, the trend is turning downward practically throughout Finland, Lundqvist told YLE.
“Some welfare service municipalities are doing a little better than others, but looking at the trend, it can be stated that the situation is more challenging in almost all welfare service municipalities compared to 2020,” he said.
“We have to think nationally about how we can improve the well-being of working-age people. Finnish society needs a healthy and functional population.
THL will publish more survey results at the beginning of the summer and in the fall.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
Source: The Nordic Page
