Support for families affected by addiction at risk in Kokkola, Finland
In the Finnish city of Kokkola, the continued operation of the Liina outpatient unit, which supports mothers and families with substance use problems, is under threat due to uncertainty over funding. Funding for the unit’s activities is secured only until the end of the year, and continued operations require STEA funding and support from the social services region.
As YLE News reports, Liina operates under the Kokkola Mother and Child Home and Safe House Association and provides services in Central Ostrobothnia. The organisation’s executive director, Marita Loukiainen, said the financial situation is the most strained it has been in more than 20 years: funding issues had arisen every year, but there had never been such pressure before.
Funding cuts
The Finnish government is reducing aid to non-governmental organisations in the social and healthcare sectors in 2024–2027 to less than half of its previous level. As a result, many organisations in the social and healthcare services sector are planning temporary layoffs or staff reductions.
Last year, specialised facilities for the rehabilitation of mothers who use psychoactive substances were closed in Kokkola and Oulu. In addition to Kokkola, outpatient services similar to Liina operate in Kuopio, Turku, Lahti, Kouvola and Helsinki.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Help for mothers and children
This year, 44% of Liina’s clients were pregnant when they sought help. The unit cooperates, among others, with the HAL clinic for pregnant women with substance use problems, a maternity clinic and counselling services. Liina itself no longer conducts sobriety monitoring and screenings; these are carried out by other services.
The unit’s staff noted that nearly half of new clients this year had problematic alcohol use. Another approximately one-quarter used alcohol together with drugs.
Yulia Alatalo, a 28-year-old mother of two, said that Liina helped her process traumatic experiences, improve her relationship with her children and move toward recovery. She also attends Alcoholics Anonymous groups and the Päihdekeskus Portti support centre. Alatalo fears that if Liina ceases operating, families in Kokkola will find it difficult to obtain other help.
