Young individuals report dismissive comments about mental health in Finland

A 24-year-old woman named Anna vividly recalls an unsettling experience during a visit to a student health service two years ago when she had just received a binge eating disorder diagnosis. She explains that in stressful situations, she would often eat large quantities of food uncontrollably, leading to feelings of shame. During her treatment, a general practitioner suggested that she could simply choose not to buy treats from the store, a comment that left her shocked.

“Fortunately, I had accepted my illness by that point, but if I had been in the midst of a severe phase, I might have stopped my treatment altogether,” she reflects.

Anna is one of around 150 young individuals aged 18 to 25 who shared their experiences with mental health services. Many young people reported receiving dismissive comments regarding their mental health issues from various health care sectors, including student health services and specialized care.

Terhi Aalto-Setälä, chief physician of the mental health team at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, acknowledged that the issue of being belittled is a significant problem. She emphasized that the first experience of feeling belittled might stem from the difficulty of obtaining timely help.

Anna and others also reported uncomfortable interactions specifically related to their eating disorders. A 23-year-old who had received inpatient treatment recounted, “A staff member once said, ‘Just decide to start eating, and you’ll forget about this eating disorder nonsense.'”

Aalto-Setälä highlighted that there should be increased training for health care professionals to better recognize and address mental health issues, particularly eating disorders, as these conditions remain misunderstood.

Ultimately, Anna hopes that health care staff will remember the impact of their words, acknowledging how dismissive comments can strip hope from young people struggling with mental health issues.