The “Mental Health Belongs to Everyone!” community was founded in January 2024 in response to the growing need to advocate for the accessibility and equality of mental health services in Finland. The founding members, Severi Suominen and Verso Vuorenmaa, were both strongly committed to fighting against cuts to mental health services and promoting the well-being of citizens.
Significant Events:
- March 9, 2024: The community’s first major public event took place in Helsinki. The event was a protest against the government’s proposed cuts to mental health services. It attracted significant attention, with hundreds of people attending to demand better mental health services for all. The protest brought considerable visibility to the community and supported its growth.
- June 3, 2024: At the beginning of summer, a second major protest was organized in collaboration with several social and health organizations. The event brought together professionals and citizens from various parts of Finland, and the community’s demands for improving mental health services were further amplified. This event solidified the community’s position in the field of mental health activism.