Mental wellbeing can be strengthened – This is how Espoo helps

Rest is essential for wellbeing. Maybe you recognise the feeling when you start to feel heavy and your work does not progress. Then it's time for a break.

A walk in nature does you good. It calms the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and reduces muscle tension. Just 20 minutes in nature has been proven to improve your mood(external link, opens in a new window).

For Espoo residents, the nature and greenness of their home town are particularly important. You can easily get to the forest, meadows or the seashore from your doorstep. Nature trails, Espoo Central Park and Nuuksio National Park are excellent outdoor recreational destinations, where everyone can refresh themselves in their favourite environment: marked forest trails, by lakes and forest ponds, on rocks, in fields and in mires.

Which one will you choose?

Physical exercise strengthens your mind(external link, opens in a new window) and functional capacity. It gives you energy, helps with stress management and improves the quality of sleep. To support mental health, it would be important to find the type of exercise that suits you.

Espoo offers a versatile selection of exercise choices for different needs. Jogging on illuminated outdoor trails is easy, and if you need a change there are outdoor gyms, workout stairs, disc golf parks and mountain bike tracks, not to forget ski trails and swimming places.

Of the indoor sports facilities, seven sports parks offer a versatile selection of sports for both exercisers and goal-oriented enthusiasts. Would you be interested in football, skateboarding, floorball or skating?

Exercise is for everyone. Seniors and special groups are served by guided exercise in Espoo, with free classes.

Find out more about the versatile range of exercise offered in Espoo on the Espoo liikkuu website. If it seems difficult to start exercising or find your own sport, you can seek advice from Espoo’s free exercise counselling service.

Culture supports mental wellbeing in many ways. A good book engrosses you and makes you relax. A concert can move you to tears and make you forget your daily life for a moment.

Culture is refreshing and revitalising. It reduces stress and anxiety and helps you concentrate and calm down. By bringing people together, it also strengthens relationships and a sense of community.

Espoo’s culture service selection is wide, and everyone can choose the entity that suits them. Find events in the Culture Espoo event calendar or try out a new cultural hobby in library courses and workshops. You can also loan equipment from the library for your own use.

For children and young people, Espoo offers cultural activities on the Espoo Hobby Path, in basic art education and at youth centres. The Culture Call and the KULPS Culture and Sports Path familiarise children and young people with cultural content during the day of pre-primary education and school.

Many targeted cultural services are also available for senior citizens, for example in museums and libraries. Kaikukortti gives access to culture to those with a poor financial situation. 

Every one of us needs help sometime. Espoo supports its residents in different life situations, changes and challenges through many low-threshold services that provide easy, free and personal assistance.

• Ohjaamotalo - One-Stop Guidance Centres for young people support young Espoo and Kauniainen residents in topics related to studying, working life, job search, livelihood, housing, daily management and wellbeing. At Ohjaamotalo's Starttipiste, you can get help without an appointment and, if necessary, anonymously. The service is also available on social media and by phone.
• Hello Espoo helps foreign language speakers in Espoo with everyday questions and problems. Information is provided in different languages and in plain language on the Hello Espoo website, at events and at the Hello Espoo Info at the Iso Omena Service Centre. Hello Espoo Info provides advice on services, benefits, filling in forms, using Kela services and essential residence permit matters at Migri, as well as matters related to leisure time and wellbeing. Hello Espoo Info is also available by e-mail and telephone.
• Finding the right service is sometimes difficult. The Espoo Infos provide advice on questions related to Espoo’s services and how to apply for them, the use of services provided by Kela and HSL, as well as on electronic applications sent to authorities. Help is available by phone, chat, service points and mobile. You can read more about the services offered by organisations and associations in your region in the Lähellä.fi(external link, opens in a new window) service.

The advisory services can be found centrally at the Iso Omena service centre. If you are wondering how to proceed, do not hesitate to contact us.