State funding cuts threaten organisations’ basic mental health services

Social and health organisations face cuts to their basic funding next year, while the state is offering wellbeing services counties 25 million euros for temporary development projects, Yle reports. The project funding is intended to compensate for cuts of about 80 million euros to STEA grants.

The arrangement has raised concerns because project funding requires organisations to create new activities, while their existing services are already under pressure. The loss of those services could increase demand for social and healthcare services.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health opened the funding application process for wellbeing services counties on Friday. The money will be available after it is awarded, at the earliest in January 2027.

The 25 million euros will not initially be divided between the wellbeing services counties according to set criteria. Funding will be granted to counties that submit applications by the deadline and meet the award conditions.

Clubhouse offers routine and support

Lahti Clubhouse is an organisation-run community space where anyone can spend the day. It offers group activities including board games and yoga, as well as work and study coaching.

Members prepare and eat lunch together several times a week. Clubhouse director Theresa Havana lists the kitchen tasks, and participants choose the ones they want to do. In the office, members work on activities such as producing the organisation’s own magazine.

The activities help people whose mental health has been affected maintain their working-life skills. People who need support may be referred to the clubhouse, for example, from a hospital outpatient clinic.

“Our common thread is community,” Havana says. Members tell her that without the clubhouse they would be very lonely and feel overwhelmed at home.

Visits to the Lahti Clubhouse give structure and meaning to the daily lives of members Jarmo Männyn and Henry Lecklin. Lecklin works on statistics at the clubhouse on Mondays and communications on Thursdays, helping to structure his week.

The organisation behind the Lahti Clubhouse is Etelä-Suomen Klubitalo ESKOT, which operates in several locations. The clubhouses’ basic operations are funded mainly half by STEA and half by wellbeing services counties or municipalities. Administration is funded through a separate general STEA grant, while development work is funded through project grants.

ESKOT executive director Sami Ylitalo says cuts to STEA funding have not yet had much effect on the organisation’s activities. At the same time, grants from municipalities and wellbeing services counties have either fallen or remained unchanged, while costs, particularly wages, have increased.

Because funding is expected to fall next year, ESKOT’s board will soon consider whether its activities need to be adjusted. The additional funding available to wellbeing services counties is one possible source of support.

Ylitalo expects the money to be sought for one larger project involving several organisations, as each wellbeing services county is expected to submit only one application.

“The project funding apparently requires the creation of new and separate activities alongside the basic operations. That is problematic when organisations’ established basic activities are already threatened and facing cuts,” Ylitalo says.

The Päijät-Häme wellbeing services county invited organisations to discuss potential projects as soon as the application process opened. Applications must be prepared quickly, as the deadline is October 26.