Turku UAS brings health kiosks to secondary schools in Masku, Mynämäki and Nousiainen

The Vinssi project encourages young people to lead substance-free lives. The aim is to support them in making lifestyle choices and reducing their use of nicotine products, in particular, through participatory approaches.

The new Vinssi project aims to reduce substance abuse among young people. Involving young people in the design and implementation of the project will increase the sense of community and inclusion.

According to a national school health survey, the use of drugs and nicotine products by young people is a cause for concern. Although the majority of young people abstain from substance use, nicotine use in particular has increased and diversified.

– It is clear that we have a clear need to strengthen preventive measures and raise awareness of the health risks of nicotine, says Anu Vaihekoski, Lecturer and Project Manager at Turku University of Applied Sciences.

Vinssi – Peer and Community-Based Methods for Supporting Substance-Free Lifestyles Among Lower Secondary School Students will create and evaluate new, low-threshold, participatory approaches to lifestyle guidance for young people and strengthen secondary school health education.

– Our main goal is to promote the holistic well-being of secondary school students and to embed health promotion activities into the everyday lives of young people and school activities, says Vaihekoski.

Concrete support for healthy choices for secondary school pupils

The Vinssi project is an activity that involves young people in their everyday environment. Health kiosks will be set up in secondary schools in the municipalities of Masku, Nousiainen and Mynämäki, where young people will receive support for healthy lifestyles.

The project also organises theme days and youth peer councils, where young people can participate and contribute to welfare activities.

– We provide information and concrete, everyday support to secondary school students, their guardians and professionals working in schools, says Vaihekoski.

He says that the impact of the project can be significant; at its best, activities carried out together with young people and their close adults can support young people’s well-being, reduce substance abuse and increase health awareness.

Regional actors to actively cooperate

The three-year project will be implemented in cooperation with regional municipalities and organisations. In addition to Turku University of Applied Sciences, the municipalities of Nousiainen, Mynämäki and Masku and the Cancer Association of Southwest Finland are involved.

– The winch creates a new approach to promoting the health of secondary school children. Cooperation between the Axis municipalities and the various actors will enable us to offer our young people a wide range of effective wellbeing services in their familiar everyday environments. We hope that young people will learn to make the right choices in their everyday lives, says Pasi Isokangas, Director of Education in Nousiainen Municipality.

The project is coordinated by Turku University of Applied Sciences and funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The project aims to create sustainable models that will support the health and well-being of young people even after the project has ended.

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