Faith in the future requires structures and communities

In times when progressing climate change, financial uncertainty, geopolitical fluctuations, and the pressures of a performance-oriented culture are constantly present in our daily lives, it’s no wonder that the mental health of many young adults is shaken and faith in the future is challenged. This year, Nyyti has selected ‘Faith in the Future’ as the theme of students’ mental health week. 

I personally identify with the generation of young people who are seriously struggling, and I genuinely believe in the importance of fostering faith in the future. The mental health situation among students is alarming. In research conducted in 2024, 15% of higher education students reported having been diagnosed with depression, and more than 17% reported a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder in the past 12 months (THL, 2024). In addition, nearly two-thirds of those who needed mental health services felt they did not receive adequate support from the FSHS (THL, 2024). To be able to rely on faith in the future in this situation, we need both credible structural measures to improve mental health services for students and political action to build a genuinely sustainable future for the next generations. 

Nyyti emphasises that faith in the future is built on hope, a sense of significance, and a feeling  of community. Structural solutions create a foundation for hope, but in Otaniemi, we can particularly influence the sense of community and the meaningfulness of daily life that comes with it. Our Aalto community is filled with recreational associations, activist circles, and the wildest ideas around shared interests, where we young adults have the opportunity to discover ourselves, connect with others, and find meaning in our daily lives. 

Communities in Otaniemi and beyond have been the greatest support for me, both before I received mental health services and for a long time afterward. However, it is very challenging—or even nearly impossible—to find the capacity to join social circles when your mind is unsettled. Therefore, when we are feeling better, it is important for each of us to take responsibility for looking out for the people around us. 

So, in our own communities, let’s make sure that everyone has the opportunity to be part of the group and participate according to their own resources. Whether it’s about more inclusive reception of new students, easily accessible evening events to relieve climate anxiety, or alpacas brought for petting at Alvarin Aukio Square, we can create meaningfulness in others’ daily lives through small acts and encounters. In a rocking boat, nothing eases the journey like having someone by your side. 

Kerttu Peura
AYY Board Member, Social Policy