You can call our services if you need couple’s therapy to talk about issues in your personal relationship, family counselling to work through a difficult period with a teenager, for example, or housing counselling or financial advice from a social worker.
You can count on Helsinki social services and health care professionals to be helpful, respectful and discreet.
Maternity and child health clinics
Guidance and support for families of young children
Finland invests heavily in prenatal, neonatal and paediatric care, as time has shown that there are many societal benefits to identifying and addressing health and developmental issues at an early stage.
Helsinki has an efficient network of maternity and child health clinics (neuvola) that serve neighbourhoods in cooperation with the local health stations. Nurses and physicians in these clinics specialise in the care of expectant parents, infants and small children.
Staff perform regular check-ups on pregnant parents and growing children to monitor their progress and keep track of developmental milestones. Vaccinations are also administered at this time, according to the national vaccination programme. These appointments are a great opportunity to discuss any questions or concerns clients may have about their children, roles or family life.
In addition to this helpful network of clinics, Helsinki also runs four family centres and three networked family centres in different parts of the city. They offer an expanded selection of helpful services for young families, all under one roof. Many have special services for families from abroad, in addition to a family counselling office, speech therapy and child welfare services, to name just a few service options.
Learn more about our maternity and child health clinics
Generous parental leave
In Helsinki, families can access a range of services and support. Parents can take generous family leave and receive other forms of assistance following the birth of a child, if they are eligible for state benefits.
For example, eligible parents in Finland can take an approximately 14-month parental leave from work after the birth or adoption of a child. In two-parent families, each parent can take half of the leave, or 160 days. Parents can choose to give up to 63 days of their personal quota to the other parent, if they wish. The social benefits agency Kela pays parents a parental allowance during the parental leave.
Kela also pays one parent a monthly child benefit until the child reaches the age of 17. Childcare allowances and flexible care allowances are also available after the child turns two.
Social services
Helsinki’s social service counsellors are available to help you if you need a hand. They can offer assistance and support if you are struggling with parenting and daily living, housing or money matters.
Sections of the city’s social services also serve specific groups like the unhoused or the long-term unemployed. The city also offers integration services and urgent social services for people who have recently arrived in the country. These services can help with finding a job, learning the Finnish or Swedish language and finding your place in Helsinki.
Go to the Social support and financial assistance main page
Child welfare services
In Finland, parents or guardians are primarily responsible for their children’s wellbeing until the child turns 18.According to the country’s laws on child welfare, if parents or guardians are judged to be unable to do this properly, public authorities are obliged to intervene.
Helsinki’s child welfare services work closely with school and healthcare professionals to flag worrying issues and follow up on them. Punishing children physically is against the law in Finland.
Find out more about child welfare services
Social services for undocumented individuals
The city’s social services offer urgent and necessary services and advocacy to people in Helsinki with an irregular status. If you are in Finland without a residence permit or the proper documentation, you may be entitled to this help.
Counselling for undocumented migrants is available on weekdays 9.00–16.00.
Call tel. +358 9 310 23747 (Link starts a phone call)
Find out more about social services for undocumented individuals
Services for young people
If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, conflicts at home or with friends, bullying, substance use, or other distressing situations, it is important to seek help. You don’t have to go through it alone – support is available.
Talk to a professional, such as a school nurse or a nurse at your student health care services. You can also contact Mieppi the Mental Health Service Unit or your health station. The professional will assess your situation and help you find the support you need.
Find out more on mental health support for young people
If you are experiencing neglect, threats, or violence at home, child protection services and emergency social services can provide assistance.
Learn more about child welfare services
For those struggling with serious substance abuse issues, the Youth Substance Abuse Service Pysäkki offers support without the need for an appointment.
More information is available on Pysäkki’s own page
The Youth Helsinki website provides useful information on maintaining mental well-being and finding the right support services. It also contains details on studying, leisure activities, and other topics relevant to young people.
Go to the Youth Helsinki website(Link leads to external service)
Senior services
In line with its principle of low-threshold assistance for people of all ages, Helsinki organises many services for older people to make their lives easier.
Helsinki's network of service centres offers seniors a space for social interaction, activities, and support free of charge. Each service centre offers a free gym for the seniors and unemployed.
The centres provide also guidance on daily living, help with managing health and social services, and foster community connections. The centres host various recreational and cultural activities tailored to seniors' needs.
Learn more about our service centres
The city organises 24-hour service housing to seniors who need more extensive assistance, while home care services, day activities for the elderly and meal delivery services, for example, allow many other older people to continue living safely in their own homes.
Family members who take care of elderly or disabled people are eligible for informal care services in Helsinki, such as day activities for the elderly.