Mental well-being and sobriety

On this page, you will find tips and information to help you strengthen your mental wellbeing and examine your own substance use.

Good mental health is an everyday resource

Good mental health means recognising your strengths and resources. It helps you cope with daily life, do meaningful things enjoy living. Wellbeing is supported by healthy relationships and awareness of your emotions.

Mental health can be strengthened just like physical health – even small actions can make a difference. Regulating cravings, such as substance use or gaming, is important. Although substances may feel relaxing short-term, they often increase anxiety and distress in the long run. Reflecting on why you use them and what emotions they bring up is key.

Loved ones need support too

Taking care of your own wellbeing benefits both you and them. Help i If you are concerned about a loved one’s mental health, substance use or addiction. Help and support is available from the Finnish association FinFami ry.

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Service path: Mental health

1. Find out how you’re doing

Life involves many different emotions – joy, sadness, anxiety, or negative thoughts. It is completely normal for emotions to fluctuate. Often even difficult emotions pass on their own when you use your own coping methods and give yourself time. If something is bothering or worrying you, it is a good idea to talk about it with someone close to you.

Symptom scales

2. Life management skills

One important resource in everyday life and life’s challenges is mental flexibility, or resilience. It means the ability to cope with setbacks and change – and to manage stress, uncertainty and everyday situations. Resilience does not mean that there are no difficulties. It means being able to overcome them and move forward. Everyone has the ability to strengthen their own mental flexibility and develop their coping skills.

MIELI Mental Health Finland

You can read about mental well-being in difficult situations in life in the following:

Difficult situations in life

Self-destructiveness

Sometimes life can feel too heavy, and self-destructive thoughts may come to mind. They are not uncommon, and you do not need to be frightened by them. These thoughts do not always mean that you want to harm yourself or end your life. It is important to know that you can talk about self-destructiveness and suicidal thoughts. Asking and talking about them does not increase the risk of suicide. If you are having self-destructive thoughts, it may be a sign that you need help. You can talk to someone close to you and seek help, for example, at your health centre, occupational health services or student health services.

Need for help

If you need immediate help, call the emergency number 112 or go to the nearest emergency department. You can also call Suicide Prevention Centre, Kuopio office: Support and help for people struggling with self-destructiveness, people who have attempted suicide and their loved ones, as well as the families and friends of those who have died by suicide.

3. Emotional, interaction and awareness skills as part of mental wellbeing

Emotional skills refer to the ability to notice and name your own emotions. They help you understand what is happening within you and why something feels good or bad. Emotional skills also include the ability to regulate your emotions – for example, to calm yourself down when you are upset or to comfort yourself in moments of sadness. When we learn to recognise and process emotions, we can better influence our own wellbeing and ability to cope.

Interaction skills refer to the ability and willingness to connect with other people – to talk, listen and do things together. Good interaction helps build trust and strengthens relationships. Everyone can develop their interaction skills – even small things, such as listening to someone or asking how they are, make a difference.

Awareness skills refer to the ability to be present in the moment – to stop and notice what is happening right now. They help you notice your thoughts, emotions and bodily sensations gently and with acceptance. Awareness skills also include a compassionate attitude towards yourself – for example, the ability to calm and soothe yourself when you feel stressed or restless.

4. Mental health self-help program

You can strengthen your mental wellbeing by using the free self-care programmes. They can help you, for example, learn to relax, build your resources, and find ways to cope with everyday challenges. Self-care programmes are not a substitute for professional help, but they can be a good support for your wellbeing.

Mental health Self-help program

Service path: Substances and addictions

1. Tests and Symptom Questionnaires

Wellbeing is supported by the ability to regulate cravings, which may relate to substance use or gaming. Using substances or gaming can bring momentary relief when you are experiencing stress, anxiety or low mood. But in the long run, they can increase distress, complicate relationships and make everyday life more difficult. It is good to stop and think about when substance use or gaming starts to become a cause for concern.

You can assess your personal situation with various tests. If a test gives you elevated scores or you become concerned about your own behaviour, it is important to address the situation early. Change is possible – and help is available.

Tests and counters

2. Information about addictions

The pages below contain information about different substances and gaming. It is a good idea to stop and think about your situation and seek support if needed. Help is available, and change is possible.

Alcohol use can creep into everyday life without you noticing. Many only become aware of it when a loved one brings it up – or when the negative effects start to show in their own wellbeing, such as in mood, energy levels, or relationships. Alcohol is always harmful to health, and it is particularly risky when consumption repeatedly exceeds the recommended limits.

Alcohol

There are many kinds of nicotine products – for example cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches and snus. All of these may contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. Nicotine has a rapid effect on the body and can make it difficult to control its use.

Nicotine

All substances are harmful to health. It is not possible to define a completely safe limit for the use of any substance. Life can also be negatively affected by behavioural addictions, such as sex addiction or internet addiction.

Drugs and other intoxicating substances

Quick guides

Gambling can sometimes begin to have a negative impact on your mood, daily life, or financial situation. Gambling can bring momentary excitement or relief, but if it starts to dominate your life, it is a good idea to stop and think about your situation. Does gambling take up too much of your time, money, or thoughts?

Gambling problems

3. Self-care programmes and the service path for loved ones

Substances and other addictive behaviours can affect health and quality of life in many ways. Excessive gaming can also negatively affect your everyday life – it can take time away from friends, hobbies, studies or work. Gambling in particular can cause financial problems. It is worthwhile to stop and consider when games or substance use begins to take up more space in your life than you would like. Reducing or stopping substance use or gambling is always a good decision. Support is available, for example, through free self-care programmes, which can help you get started and strengthen your wellbeing.

Information and support for reducing or stopping

Tips for cutting down and stopping alcohol The Smoking cessation coaching programme Ask for help with gambling

Support and advice related to mental health and substance use

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