The Mental Health Toolkit

The Mental Health Toolkit is a project focused on mental health support measures and methods, providing support for various sectors. The project also aims to promote the readiness of workplaces and work communities to strengthen and support mental health as part of work ability. Other key elements of the project include utilising the expertise of occupational health care and occupational safety and health as well as co-operation with different operators in the development of well-being at work.  

The project disseminates the Mental Health Toolkit to workplaces and work communities by utilising research on the dissemination and implementation of innovations. The toolkit includes research-based tools and methods, which have been assessed to be effective, to help work communities build a humane work culture that supports mental well-being. The project offers support for putting the Mental Health Toolkit to use. The project develops existing tools further and develops new ones. The project also carries out free-of-charge training and coaching. 

Changes in society have an effect on work and mental health. This, in turn, challenges workplaces to renew their practices. One of the focus areas of the project is to support well-being, especially for the social welfare and health care sector and the art, culture and events sector, both of which were especially affected by COVID-19. In addition, the work ability and safety of professional drivers in road freight transport and bus transport are promoted and support is offered at different stages of life. 

Changing working life also challenges occupational health care to evolve to better meet the needs of working life and workplaces. In the project, the Good Occupational Health Care Practice guide will be updated, and operating models and co-operation between different operators will be developed. The Työote operating model will be established in the project and propagated into co-operation between primary and occupational health care, among others.​

The project studies and assesses the success and effectiveness of implementing the Mental Health Toolkit and other measures, the project’s own operating environment and changes in working conditions and well-being at work. Another simultaneous objective is to better understand the scope of work ability challenges related to mental health along with the cultural shift of taking mental health issues into consideration in work life.

A quantitative goal is to reach 1000 workplaces and occupational health care units during the project.

Research brief: Mental well-being and work ability support in the art, culture and events sector

Research brief for educational staff participating in the “Well-being at work in leadership training” study (in Finnish)

Research brief for students participating in the “Well-being at work in leadership training” study (in Finnish)

The project is carried out with a broad network of partners and stakeholders. 

The current partners include the University of Eastern Finland, the University of Jyväskylä, Mieli ry, the Finnish Musicians’ Union, the Arts Promotion Centre Finland and the Trade Union for Theatre and Media Finland.

The work is managed by a team of experts that includes representatives of ministries, labour market organizations and stakeholders. 

The Mental Health Toolkit project is part of The Mental Health at Work Programme.  The project is funded by Finland's Sustainable Growth Programme through the European Union’s one-time recovery tool (Next Generation EU) via the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. 

• Management and coordination: Sara Lindström
• Dissemination and Integration: Mari Haverinen
• Communications and impact: Päivi Lehtomurto
• Assessment: Jarno Turunen
• Digital and Product development: Jussi Konttinen 
• Work Ability and Productivity through the TYÖOTE operating model: Hanna Hakulinen
• Development of Occupational Health Care: Hanna Hakulinen 
• Supporting mental well-being and work ability in the arts, culture and events sectors: Heli Ansio
• Supporting work ability management in the social welfare and health care sector: Mikael Sallinen
• Professional Drivers: Susanna Visuri
• Psychosocial Factors: Tommi Alanko 
• Support for Different Life Stages: Mervi Ruokolainen