Our assessment of the need for treatment is unfortunately experiencing very high demand at the moment. To alleviate the backlog, our national service number for general and mental health serves exceptionally on Wednesday 25 Sept and on Thursday 26 Sept from 8 am to 1 pm and on Friday from 8 am to 12 pm. In addition to this, some service forms in the Self online service are temporarily unavailable. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Coming soon again: Small Changes for Good Health – student well-being week

(Updated 13 Sept 2024: The entire program can now also be read in English.)

What exactly does “sexual well-being” mean? During the FSHS’s Small Changes for Good Health student well-being week (to be held 30 Sept – 4 Oct 2024), we’ll have physiotherapists, oral health professionals, doctors, public health nurses and psychologists to provide the answers. Our professionals will provide information on sexual health from different perspectives, examining facts and helping debunk myths.

Electric blue background that looks like a painted wall. There is a white heart on the wall, on which there is a line art drawing of two people kissing. The bottom of the image includes the week's logo, which consists of four puzzle pieces.

Online events, organised around the theme Sexuality in the daily life of students, will provide answers to questions such as how relaxation can help reduce pain during intercourse, how you can protect yourself against STDs during oral sex, and what points should be considered when choosing a suitable hormonal birth control method. 

There will be events in Finnish on each weekday, and there’ll be one event in English and one in Swedish.

On four days during the student well-being week, we’ll be organising an hour-long webinar called ‘Ask an expert’, with the opportunity to send in your questions beforehand. A nationwide health promotion webinar will also be held on Thursday 3 October 2024. All the week’s events require preregistration – you’ll find the registration links next to each event’s details on this page.

Events during the Small Changes for Good Health week

MONDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2024, 12 noon

Is pelvic floor pain normal and do I have to live with it? How can I tell if my pelvic floor is too tight/tense or too weak? What can cause pain during intercourse?

For answers to these questions and more, join our infoblast Fysioterapia ja seksuaaliterveys: yhdyntäkivut, lantionpohjan toiminta ja rentoutuminen (‘Physiotherapy and sexual health: intercourse pain, pelvic floor function and relaxation’) starting at 12 noon. Events dealing with the same issues will be held in both Finnish and Swedish at 12 noon. Questions will be answered by physiotherapist Anna Metsämuuronen in the Finnish-language webinar and by physiotherapist Yvonne Granlund in the Swedish-language webinar.

TUESDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2024, 12 noon

Did you know that STDs can also be transmitted – both to and from you – through the mucous membrane in your mouth? Using protection during oral sex is important for sexual health. Oral health, on the other hand, can have a big impact on social interactions and sexual self-esteem.

These topics will be discussed starting at 12 noon in our infoblast Suu ja seksuaaliterveys: seksitaudit suussa, putsaa pususi – suun omahoito, suuseksisuojan käyttö (‘The mouth and sexual health: STDs in the mouth, freshen your kisses – oral self-care, using protection during oral sex’). Answering your questions will be dentist Henna Salmio and public health nurse Satu Kyntäjä. The event is in Finnish.

WEDNESDAY, 2 OCTOBER 2024, 12 noon (Note! English program)

Does having an IUD inserted hurt? Do birth control pills cause infertility? Is it dangerous to take emergency contraception (the morning-after pill)?

Questions related to contraception will be dealt with starting at 12 noon in our infoblast Contraception and preventing pregnancy: different options, and the benefits and harms of hormonal contraception, myths related to pregnancy prevention. Separate events in Finnish and English with the same content take place at 12 pm.

THURSDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2024, 2 – 3:30 p.m.

(Please note that the event starts later than the other events)

What exactly does a student’s sexual well-being mean, and how can you look after it? How can you make decisions that have a positive impact on your sexual health?

You’re welcome to join our nationwide webinar Opiskelijan seksuaalinen hyvinvointi (‘The sexual well-being of students’). The keynote speaker for the webinar, which starts at 2:30 p.m., will be Maria Nikunlaakso, who is a service manager from sexual and relationship counselling services for young people at Väestöliitto. Also speaking at the event will be Medical Director of General and Mental Health Minna Paavonsalo from the FSHS, Jesse Häyhä from the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) and Linda Vallenius from the National Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (SAMOK). The event is in Finnish.

FRIDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2024, 12 noon

Can an open relationship be a serious relationship? Is our sexual orientation permanent or unchanging?

On the last day of our well-being week, we’ll focus on diversity within sexualities and relationships. For answers to questions by you as well as others, join our infoblast Mielenterveys ja seksuaalisuus: seksuaalisuuden ja suhteiden moninaisuus (‘Mental health and sexuality: diversity within sexualities and relationships’) starting at 12 noon. Your questions will be answered by members of the FSHS’s sex counselling team: psychologist Marjo Tossavainen and public health nurse Elina Haikonen. The event is in Finnish.

FSHS organizes the Small Changes for Good Health week now for the third time.