Pysäkki brings together young people's substance abuse services under one roof and provides a community to spend time in. Social instructor Niko and practical nurse Emma walk alongside the young people and maintain hope for change.
The apartment building is located on Laivalahdenkatu in Herttoniemi, where Helsinki youth aged 13–24 years can get the substance abuse services they need under the same roof in the home-like premises on the second floor.
– When a young person steps inside Pysäkki for the first time, they might not have a clear idea as to what kind of service they need. In that moment, it is important to be present and listen to the young person, says Pysäkki’s social instructor Niko Taponen.
At Pysäkki, the young person always gets to decide for themself what kind of service they need. Some of the young people approach the substance abuse workers immediately on their first reception visit to Pysäkki. Some come to get a feel for the Pysäkki community.
– It is up to us as professionals to create an atmosphere here where young people feel safe and want to stick to this place, Niko continues.
Youth Substance Abuse Service Pysäkki was established in the autumn of 2023 so that young people with substance abuse issues would have a place to turn to for help. The service is easy to access without appointments and even when intoxicated. By Finnish standards, this is a unique way of organising substance abuse services for young people.
There are numerous different substance abuse services offered at Pysäkki, and many of the Pysäkki clients take advantage of several services at the same time.
Many difficult issues, such as mental health problems, neuropsychiatric challenges, or economic and social problems, such as life management challenges or homelessness, often lie behind drug use among young people at Pysäkki.
– Young people's substance abuse problems often arise where there have been enough bad situations, being left alone and falling out of the safety net, says Niko.
Visiting Pysäkki has been made as easy as possible for young people. Each client's service is always overseen by a multi-professional team, which can include a doctor, a nurse, a social worker, a social therapist, a social instructor, and a practical nurse in substitution treatment, depending on the situation.
– Our services are designed with the young people’s life situations in mind. A young person can be seen, for example, at network meetings, where all the professionals involved in their care are present, and where the young person's matters are advanced simultaneously, says Pysäkki nurse Emma Laatikainen.
There is strong research evidence on the positive effects of multi-professional collaboration in the health and social services sector. Research shows that multi-professional collaboration improves the client-orientedness, quality, and effectiveness of services. The expertise of professionals also expands when knowledge is shared among colleagues.
At Pysäkki, the young person meets professionals from both social welfare and health care at the reception. From the very first meeting, the aim is to map the situation of the young person as comprehensively as possible through the collaboration of several experts.
– I feel that our multi-professional collaboration presents itself to the young person as strong professionalism and inspires confidence that they are in good hands and getting help, says Niko.
Some young people may hang about at Pysäkki anonymously for a considerable length of time before expressing a desire for other support. Often, important things happen to the young person in informal encounters.
– Young people may not necessarily know what substance use can lead to at worst. In spontaneous conversations, we can share information about intoxicants, help young people understand their own situation, and tell them what kind of help is available, says Emma.
Emma's experience is that when young people get answers to their questions, it is easier for them to seek help.
At Pysäkki, young people get to choose the moment when they are ready to trust the professionals.
– In this job, you have to be patient and walk side by side until the young person has the motivation to change their situation, says Emma, and continues:
– But when the moment comes and the young person states that they need professional help for their substance abuse problem, we have the opportunity to respond to the need right away.
