Karoliina Riihikoski Roosa-Maria Routi Ronja Sourulahti Suvi Virtala

ESSAY: CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES PAPER

Hoitotyn koulutusohjelma 2012

SISLLYS

1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 3 2 DEFINITION OF TERMS ........................................................................................... 3 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Health .................................................................................................................. 3 Welfare ................................................................................................................ 4 Rehabilitation ...................................................................................................... 4 Health in relation to the environment ................................................................. 5

2.5 Health promotion .................................................................................................. 5 3 EFFECTIVITY OF SOCIETY ..................................................................................... 6 3.1 Research result .................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Laws concerning youth ....................................................................................... 6 4 FINNISH YOUNGSTERS HEALT AND WELL-BEING IN THE 2000S ............... 7 4.1 School health promotion study ........................................................................... 7 4.2 How the data is gathered ..................................................................................... 7 4.3 Results ................................................................................................................. 8 4.4 Why the data is gathered ..................................................................................... 8 5 YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR HEALTH IN NOWADAYS ................................... 8 5.1 International comparing ...................................................................................... 9 6 HEALTH OF YOUNG ON THE FUTURE ................................................................ 9 6.1 Challenges ......................................................................................................... 11 6.2 For improvement ............................................................................................... 11 SOURCES ....................................................................................................................... 12

INTRODUCTION

We deal in this essay Finnish population's health and well-being, the current situation in Finland, and how society seeks to promote the public welfare. Everyone has their own views on the health and welfare. Our understanding of what is health is affected by light in which we look at it. We start by looking at the concepts we use, such as health, welfare, rehabilitation, the relationship between health and the environment and health promotion. Welfare of the people is supported and promoted in different ways. For example, different projects are part

of promoting individuals, communities and at the same time the welfare of society. We give an overview of societys strategies and programs seeking to promote young people's health in Finland. Then we focus on describing young people's current wellbeing in society and the plans for the future promotion. (Ala-Poikela 2010, 2)

DEFINITION OF TERMS

2.1

Health

Health is often defined as a mode in which people do not have diseases or injuries. If people is asked to describe the concept health they can answer in many ways. It is something that the individual looks very personally. It can be a

good physical fitness and mental agility, the social interactions, the possibility of doing the things or as psychosocial well-being. The WHO describes health as a state of complete physical mental and social well-being. In a Health debate has occurred the concept of positive health, which

is specified and further developed by sociologist Aaron Antonovsky. It is called sense of coherence. It means that a person has positive health when life seems somehow logical and predictable.

2.2

Welfare

Welfare refers to the general prosperity and good health. It has different definitions and metrics. It can be composed with a number of factors or individuals personal values. Measurable constituents of well-being typically consist of health, living conditions and livelihoods. In the material base the term welfare could describe living conditions. For the individual constituents of well-being are social relationships, personal fulfillment and happiness. These different components of well-

being are typically supported by one another. (Wikipedia webpages 2012)

Erik Allardt has done a well-known definition for the concept of welfare in 1976. Allardts definition includes three dimensions of well-being: the standard of living, community relations and forms of self realization, which is also in Finland described by the english words having, loving and being. (Ala-Poikela 2010, 2)

The definition and measurement of well-being is shifting from the emphasis of the material prosperity to the relevance of life and appreciation of human relationships as well as the avoidance of deprivation. (Tilastokeskus webpages 2005)

2.3

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is systematic and multi-disciplinary, usually long-term activities to help manage clients life situation. The aim of rehabilitation is independent living, welfare and employment promotion. Rehabilitation is a different set of operations, and may consist for example discussions, trial work or coaching, assistive services, or designing the working conditions. When it comes to young people, it's usually not relevant to talk about rehabilitation.

2.4

Health in relation to the environment

We Finns have traditionally spoken of our society as a welfare state. What is considered standard conditions will ultimately depend on the members of society. This, in turn, affect the social and physical environment as well as members

ty and its values. In a similar way the minimum happiness limits are affected community. This is due to estimates of what is regarded as a dignified life of happiness condition, but it depends on an assessment of what resources and other circumstances reasonably allow. (Wikipedia webpages 2012)

Habitat provides

the

framework

for a

human

to

have

physical,

mental and social health. The relations between health and the environment are often indirect. It is therefore not always possible to show directly how the environment can sustain human health and what type of environment does support the people. People are individuals, as well as their relationship with the living environment. (Stakes webpages) Many of the laws and regulations provide guidance of organizing the activities of human habitat.

2.5 Health promotion Health promotion is goal oriented activities based on the overall values. It includes promotive and preventive approaches. The results of these activities are stronger protection of the health, lifestyle changes and the development of the health services. Activities will be reflected in individual, community and society health and well-being. Health promotion is a health investment. In municipality, this means all the activities with the objective to add population health and ability and to reduce the premature deaths and health inequalities between the population. (Wikipedia webpages 2012)

EFFECTIVITY OF SOCIETY

3.1

Research result

National Board of Education and STAKES (Social and health care development) have searched pupils school health, health services, alliances between home and school and health education teaching. The results showed exiguity of educational psychologist and school social works in schools, in which there are less than hundred pupils and outside the South Finland province. In Lapland school health care system included only a public health nurse. School doctors work contribution was also too low in nationwide. In primary and secondary school the pupil healthcare support was only 7 hours/100 pupils when it should be 16 hours. (Stakes webpages) That should be getting improved immediately, because there is law which ordains these things.

3.2

Laws concerning youth

Child Welfare Law (13.4.2007/417) ordains that social welfare organs in every municipality must monitor and advance the welfare of young people and eliminate the faults and prevent their occurrence in growing up circumstances. (Finlex webpages)

The Youthlaw (27.1.2006/72) ordains that work and policy of youth belongs to the cities. Implementing the work of youngsters belongs to cities, youth organizations and other associations. The utilities of youth work are possible to produce regionally with co-operation between cities. In the work and policy of youth work must be included educational guidance, premises, possibilities in interests and hobbies, support of youth organizations and youth groups, information and consultation service, sporting, cultural, international and multicultural activities, environmental education and different workshops of young people and other forms of activity which fit in local needs and circumstances. Youth work and policy is achieved by diversified cooperation and with co-operation with young people, their organizations and other associations which are doing youth work. (20.8.2010/693) (Finlex webpages)

Diversified co-operate includes next steps. Service mesh of young people has these assignments: 1) to gather information about living conditions of youngsters and assess situation of youngsters to help making local decisions and plans 2) advance services of youngsters co-ordinations and effectiveness aiming more sufficient, excellent and accessible utilities 3) plan and accelerate common methodology to guide youngsters towards to the services and if needed moving to another services 4) advance the fluent flow of information in services of youngsters by planning common procedures between authorities. (Finlex webpages)

FINNISH YOUNGSTERS HEALT AND WELL-BEING IN THE 2000S

4.1

School health promotion study

School health promotion study has measure adolescents well-being and health since 1995. The Study has been carried out in all secondary-, upper secondary- and vocational schools.

4.2

How the data is gathered

There is an anonymous classroom where the data is gathered. Study includes questions about living conditions, school experiences, health behavior, health knowledge and experiences about welfare services. In 2008 there were 60 000 respondents in 14-16-year-olds, 2900 respondents in 17-18-year-olds and 19 000 respondents in 1720-year-olds.

4.3

Results

Results are reported after eight months of the data gathering. Boys and girls can compared in different groups, so results can compare between sexes. It is also possible to compare results between students who are from different schools. Examples: In 2008 every sixth pupil in secondary school and every tenth pupil in upper secondary school smokes daily. Smoking is four times more common among the students in vocational schools than in upper secondary schools. There is also told that School burnout is more common in secondary and upper secondary schools than in vocational schools.

4.4

Why the data is gathered

The results of studies show the areas what should keep eye on. Results shows if there is problems with health behavior and then it is easier to do something for these things. Result shows where the greatest needs are. (STAKES webpages)

YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR HEALTH IN NOWADAYS

When people are under 14years-old their number of death is much fever than other age groups. When people are in age 15-19 is the number of death (especially men) already bigger than younger age groups. Biggest reasons of death are violence and accidents but also death by some illness. In the end of 90s depression come more common during young people. When 1997 8% told that they have deep depression, then in 2001 number was 12%. Suicides are more common between boys. (Terveyskirjasto webpages) There have been some very sad happenings related to young people depressions and mental problems. There have been school shootings in Jokela (2007) and Kauhajoki (2008). Both shooters were young (ageing 18 and 22) male students and both of them shoot themselves after shooting other students or school staff. (THL webpages)

Eating disorders are more common between girls than boys. Overweight is growing problem and weight problems are more common between boys. In 2003 19% of boys aging 12-18 was overweight and number of girls was 12%.

Most of young tells that their health condition is good, but still about one of four told that they have one or more stress-symptom every day or almost every day. Back, neck and shoulder are the most common places where young people told that they feel pain.

Alcohol and smoking experiments are common between Finnish teenagers. 14 yearsold girls drinks more than same aging boys. 18 years old girls drinks fewer than same age boys but there is no difference about smoking habits between boys and girls. After 1990 there have been more drug experiments than before. (Terveyskirjasto webpages)

5.1

International comparing

Finnish 15 years-old condition seemed good in international comparing. About 60% eats breakfast every morning and soft drinks consumption is pretty small. Finnish children sport habits are on the top of comparing when they are 11 years old but after 15 years-old habits goes worse and there is not that much everyday exercise. Young people told that they are watching TV more than two hours on weekdays. (THL webpages)

HEALTH OF YOUNG ON THE FUTURE

These days the majority of young are healthy and they live healthily but the way where it's going is worrying. Diabetes, asthma and allergies are becoming more common. Young use alcohol and cigarette more and more. Experiments with drugs and drug use became more common in the 1990s.

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Many young people have stress symptoms (neck and shoulder pain, fatigue, tension, nervousness), and they become more common in the 1990s. Stress Symptoms are often a sign of general malaise, which is associated with other health problems and the failure of experience in different areas of life. Troubled teens visited at school health office often and get help. That's the step in the right direction. Important aspect to develop Increasingly, schools and educational institutions and health care of the rest of the school co-operation with student welfare.

Young peoples neck and shoulder pain and also lower back pain are become more common. That is because young are more in static posture than before. They are at break less and take exercise less and use the computer more.

Schoolchildren fatigue appears to have increased in the late 90s. Explanations for the increased fatigue are probably to going to bed at later, shortening of sleep, and schoolwork. Fatigue more difficult to cope with school work and cause other symptoms of stress such as tension, nervousness, or headaches. Fatigue can be a sign of too much workload in the school or the lack of physical working conditions. A poorly air-conditioned classrooms, large classrooms and class sizes are an important background factor. The symptoms can also be added to damp school buildings mold.

Young people's depression has increased, but assured the information with other changes in the prevalence of mental disorders is not. Depression is the most important risk factor for single suicide. Suicide rates of Finnish youth are the highest in Europe. Of hospitalization, however, clearly shows the need for an increase. Primary care and the school's cost-cutting measures in the 90's has been complicated by mental disorders for the prevention, early identification and treatment. The provision of services and access to the variation between the different hospital districts to set young people, discrimination. Young people's mental health disorders and early intervention are the best prevention of later mental health and survival of life.

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6.1

Challenges

Bullying in schools and its effects on health have received attention only in recent years. Bullying is common, and prevalence varies by school. School bullying solution requires a number of cases throughout the school and classroom community measures.

Prevention of marginalization of young people is a key challenge for health promotion. Learning difficulties are likely to be addressing the possibility of achieving results. This poses challenges regarding skills and knowledge to schools and other service systems.

6.2

For improvement

Welfare assessment will be made that the school is not just for information about the performance, but it is also a social community where people learn the common rules of the game, enjoy themselves and be well. Parents and the school will aim to develop students' well-being. Parents need support and shared throughout the school or classes of decisions and rules so that children and young people in activities to monitor and intervene in them.

Of the 1990s savings and decreasing the number of preventive work in the youth services. The school development needs of health care is currently high. School health nurses and doctors, as well as school psychologists and social workers are needed for many more municipalities. Some municipalities have already increased their rates. Regional differences in resources to combat disadvantage by improving the local situation. School health care should be involved in the preparation of school curricula and students' physical and psychosocial school environment for the development and monitoring and mental disorder prevention and early identification. It should address the early failures, and the school community and the individuals' problems. The aim should be that every school should have professional school nurse.

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SOURCES

Ala-Poikela. H. 2010. Hyvinvointi Ksitteen ja edistmisen kohteena. Bachelor's thesis. University of Lapland

Finlex webpages. Referenced 28.3.2012. Stakes webpages. Referenced 29.3.2012. http://groups.stakes.fi/NR/rdonlyres/EF9EDDC6-1272-40C1-B7E3EF3F7A5F88B1/0/ideakortti1_00.pdf Stakes webpages. Referenced 28.3.2012 http://www.stakes.fi/FI/ajankohtaista/Tiedotteet/2008/190508.htm http://info.stakes.fi/kouluterveys/EN/schoolhealthpromotion08.pdf Terveyskirjasto webpages. Referenced 29.3.2012 http://www.terveyskirjasto.fi/terveyskirjasto/tk.koti?p_artikkeli=suo00046 Tilastokeskus webpages. Referenced 29.3.2012. http://www.stat.fi/tup/kuntapuntari/kuntap_3_2005_hyvinvointi.html

THL webpages. Referenced 29.3.2012 http://www.thl.fi/en_US/web/en/pressrelease?id=28938 http://www.thl.fi/thl-client/pdfs/b32ae0df-6dbd-4f9d-822b-14ea72000908 Wikipedia webpages. Referenced 29.3.2012. www.wikipedia.org