The non-profit has already opened an online, appointment-based crisis chat in English, while other forms of support are in the works.
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File photo of a Mieli crisis help line worker. Image: Mårten Lampén / Yle
Mieli, Mental Health Finland, is closing down its telephone crisis helpline in English on Monday night — but the non-profit has plans to provide other kinds of support.
The group’s website said that its English phone support was ending at 8pm on Monday 23 March.
However, it also noted that the organisation is changing the types of support it is offering to people who speak English.
“We are expanding our support for English speakers living in Finland with several new ways to get help during difficult life situations. Our goal is to provide a low threshold for seeking help, ensuring that you can talk confidentially with a crisis worker,” the website read.
Apart from the cost of the phone call itself, its crisis help line has always been free-of-charge.
The head of Mieli’s telephone and online services unit, Susanna Winter, told Yle News by email on Monday that the organisation has offered crisis counselling services in English for years, “but its availability has been limited”.
“[The help line] has received a high number of calls at times when we have unfortunately not been able to keep [it] open. Conversely, during the hours when the line has been available, call volumes have occasionally been low,” Winter explained.
In January, Mieli announced that its help line had received a record number of calls last year.
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File photo of Susanna Winter. Image: Mårten Lampén / Yle
“Until now, we have offered English-language crisis support in a few different ways. Our crisis phone line has been available 12 hours per week, and crisis centres have provided face-to-face support and remote appointments. In addition, support has been available in other languages through interpreters,” she said.
Going forward, the organisation has already opened an online, appointment-based crisis chat in English, according to Winter.
“We have seen the need for easily accessible, low-threshold support in English. To meet that need, we are expanding our service offering so that people can get help in a way that fits their situation,” she said.
“Later this spring we will launch the Mieli Crisis Email, which offers written support in English. We will also introduce English-language video and phone appointments as well,” Winter said.
She said the chat and email platforms will be “ideal ways for those who find writing the most natural way to seek support”.
“Crisis Chat is a one-time, appointment-based written conversation. Crisis Email, as well as the upcoming video and phone appointments, provide multi-session support with the same responder,” Winter explained.
“All services allow fully anonymous contact. Services provide the opportunity to talk with a crisis worker or a trained volunteer.”
She added that Mieli’s Finnish-language crisis helpline would continue to operate around-the-clock.
In October 2023, Mieli announced plans to reduce its workforce, due to cuts in government funding.