The use of antidepressants among young adults has nearly doubled over the past 10 years, according to data from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Kela.
Helsingin Sanomat reports a sharp rise in antidepressant use among young women, with nearly one in five aged 18–29 taking such medications last year. Use among young men in the same age group also rose, but more moderately, to 7.5 percent.
Kela data shows that Finnish children and adolescents use antidepressants and ADHD medications significantly more than their peers in other Nordic countries.
Miika Vuori, a senior researcher at Kela, told STT that Finland used fewer antidepressants than other Nordic countries 15 years ago, but has since caught up and now surpasses them.
“Girls, and especially young women, are more likely to seek healthcare services. So when more people seek care, diagnoses are also more likely,” Vuori said.
Psychotherapy is the primary recommended treatment for mild to moderate depression. But Vuori noted that in recent years, it has become clear that short-term therapy is not available in sufficient quantities, which may lead to medication being prescribed more readily.
About 15 years ago, Finnish children were found to be using ADHD medications less than their Nordic peers, but since then, the number of primary school-aged boys receiving attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drugs has risen sharply.
A recent All Points North episode looked into why the number of children being diagnosed with ADHD in Finland has surged over the past decade. Listen to the episode via this embedded player, on Yle Areena, via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Are the kids alright? Finland’s ADHD generation
Politicians united at Helsinki Pride
Helsinki Pride will limit the visibility of politicians and political parties in this year’s Pride parade, reported MTV Uutiset.
The party-specific parade blocs from previous years have been removed, and parties will no longer have the opportunity to become community partners of Helsinki Pride as before, according to organisers.
This year, politicians can march behind a shared banner for politicians — the “Politicians for Rainbow Rights” block — instead of under their own party flags.
According to Annu Kemppainen, Executive Director of Helsinki Pride, politicians’ and parties’ participation in the parade has long sparked strong feelings within the community — both supportive and critical.
“Nowadays, it seems polarisation has tightened and increased. When parties come together to act as one, the point isn’t which party gets the most visibility, but that everyone joins the parade united for the same cause,” she said.
Meanwhile, an announcement that Finnish President Alexander Stubb and his spouse Suzanne Innes-Stubb will serve as the patrons of Helsinki Pride has drawn criticism from some members of Parliament, Ilta-Sanomat reports.
Finns Party MP Onni Rostila has criticised Stubb’s move, saying it breaks from the more neutral stance of his predecessor, Sauli Niinistö.
Christian Democrat MP Päivi Räsänen also criticised Stubb’s involvement, writing on X, “I respect our president, but taking on the role of a Pride figurehead was not a wise move”.
While Stubb has served as a Pride patron before, first in 2010 as foreign minister — this is the first time the role has been held by a sitting president. Former President Tarja Halonen also served as a patron, but only after leaving office. In 2022, Niinistö’s spouse Jenni Haukio was a Pride patron.
Helsinki Pride is Finland’s largest human rights and cultural event, expected to draw over 100,000 participants during Pride Week, held from 23 to 29 June.
Thrifty treats
Supermarket chain Lidl has announced that this summer, its stores will offer their baked goods at a 50 percent discount from 8 pm onwards in a bid to cut food waste, Iltalehti reports.
Previously, Lidl sold its leftover bakery items at a clearance price the following day. The company said that evening discounts could be a more effective way to prevent food waste.
“Now we want to test over the summer how price reductions on bakery items affect the amount of waste,” said Lidl’s sustainability manager Annu Puurula.
The new discount will be available every day from June 3 to September 1 in all Lidl stores across Finland.
According to Lidl’s sustainability program, the goal is to keep food waste below 1.5 percent. Lidl stated that currently, 1.48 percent of its food products — equalling 14.8 grams per kilogram — end up as waste.
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