Niemikoti Foundation was founded by the City of Helsinki in 1983
Social context: The big change in mental health care structure in Finland. Closing down mental hospitals (20 000 psychiatric hospital beds 1980, now 5200-5500)
Niemikoti Foundation was founded in order to offer services to people in out-patient care
Sopimusvuori association in Tampere played an important role as an example in Finland
Task
Provide social psychiatric and preventive mental health services in Helsinki
Enhance the mental, physical and social skills of clients, enabling them to live as independently as possible
Funding:
City of Helsinki, clients
Services
Housing services
Workshops
Day Centres
Vocational training
Criteria for becoming a client:
Mental health problems
Residence in Helsinki
Adult
“Nurse-patient relationship” required
Motivation
Portrait of a typical client:
Male
Over 40 years of age
Long term psychiatric patient
Schizophrenic
Limited social network, lonely
Lack everyday skills, needs support and guidance
No alcohol or drug abuse, not aggressive
Future challenges:
New type of clients
Clients with double diagnosis and aging clients
Funding
The strict economical situation of the City of Helsinki, the Slot Machine Association’s new policy
Personnel
The estimated shortage of qualified workers in the close future
Personnel:
Educational background in social or health care
Nurses, practical nurses, social workers, occupational therapists etc.
