A substance abuse hotline saw a 40 percent increase in calls this year.
Woman walks in Helsinki s island district of Lauttasaari, file photo.
Image: Silja Viitala / Yle
Mental Health Finland (Mieli) boosted capacity at its crisis helpline over the Christmas season, enabling the organisation to answer an anticipated increase in callers seeking assistance.
The most common issues people said they were dealing with recently include relationship problems, poor mental health, anxiety, depression, loneliness and suicidal thoughts.
In recent years callers to Mieli s helpline had similar concerns and worries, but this year the ongoing coronavirus crisis also weighed heavily in people s lives.