Youth online counselling services supporting wellbeing

Youth undergo personal and external crises. Young people seek support and mental help online. There are different kinds of online counselling chat services available, however, little is known about the quality of these services. We conduct research to produce information about the world of the young people and the role of online services in facilitating wellbeing.

The Chat study group meets weekly on Mondays. The chat data research team includes Alix Helfer, Siiri Soininvaara and Minna Laasala (Finnish Youth Research Society) and Janne Takala (A-Clinic Foundation), Pyry Kantanen (University of Turku) and MA students Essi-Lotta Hänninen (University of Lapland) and Sanni Heinonen (University of Helsinki). The responsible leader of the chat research work is Research Manager Tuuli Pitkänen.

We are eager to expand our network by welcoming visitors to our meetings and sharing information about our research in the field.

Information for research participants (in Finnish)

See more in wider context our different projects

ERASMUS+KA220: CHAT-YOUTH

Strategic Research Council: Out of Despair

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health: HANSKU

The Alli Paasikivi Foundation personal grant (Janne Takala)

Finnish Government plan for analysis, assessment and research: NUM PA (2021-2022).

Publications

Publications in English

Huhta, H., Tourunen, J., Huhta, H., Kaskela, T., Takala, J., Helfer, A., Jurvanen, S., Laine, R., Larivaara M. & Suurpää, L. & Pitkänen, T. (2023). Expanding the understanding of low-threshold services for young people. Government plan for analysis, assessment and research. Policy Brief 9/2023.

Publications in Finnish

Janne Takala Alli Paasikiven säätion blogi 2024

Janne Takala: Anonyymissa chatissa nuori voi oppia taakan jakamista. Ulos epätoivosta -blogi. Ilm. 4.10.2024

Mari Väistö Pro gradu -työ. 6/2024

Leena Suurpää, Janne Takala ja Helena Huhta: Digitaalinen tuki voi auttaa nuoria palvelukynnysten yli. Punainen Risti -blogi. Ilm. 17.10.2024.

Pitkänen, T., Tourunen, J., Huhta, H., Kaskela, T., Takala, J., Helfer, A., Jurvanen, S., Laine, R., Larivaara, M. Suurpää, L (2022) Nuorten mielenterveyden tukeminen sosiaalihuollossa ja matalan kynnyksen toiminnassa: Työntekijöiden ja nuorten näkemyksiä tarpeista ja toimintatavoista. Valtioneuvoston selvitys- ja tutkimustoiminnan julkaisusarja 2022: 65.

Huhta, H., Tourunen, J., Huhta, H., Kaskela, T., Takala, J., Helfer, A., Jurvanen, S., Laine, R., Larivaara M. & Suurpää, L. & Pitkänen, T. (2023). Policy Brief. Matala kynnys ymmärrettävä laajasti nuorten palveluissa. Myös englanniksi: Expanding the understanding of low-threshold services for young people. Valtioneuvoston selvitys- ja tutkimustoiminta Policy Brief 9/2023.