Support for parents and loved ones

Adolescents, young adults and their loved ones are entitled to easily accessible help. However, the loved ones of adolescents and young adults often end up dealing with their concerns over the adolescent or young adult alone. You may also need support if you are a parent or other loved one of an adolescent or young adult, such as a godparent, grandparent or parent of a friend.

Asking for help is not a sign of failure. On the contrary: when you are doing well, you are also better able to support the adolescent or young adult.

Youth Shelters offer free discussion support for parents and loved ones

Youth Shelters offer discussion support to the parents and other loved ones of adolescents and young adults. We support adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12 and 29 and their loved ones in various life situations where they require outside support and help. You can apply for the support if you are an adolescent or young adult, the loved one of an adolescent or young adult or a professional working with an adolescent or young adult and their loved ones.

The discussion support is provided by Youth Shelter workers who have experience in supporting adolescents, young adults and families.

The help provided by Youth Shelters is free of charge. We provide help at five Youth Shelters and through the Nettiturvis service. You can receive help in your first language, with the assistance of an interpreter if needed.

Discussion support may be necessary in situations such as the following:

• disputes and other conflicts between an adolescent or young adult and their family or loved ones
• crisis situations in the family and the immediate community
• concerns about everyday coping
• parenting issues
• issues related to an adolescent or young adult and adolescence. 

How does discussion support help?

Discussion support can help you learn to understand yourself and your life situation and find ways to overcome a difficult situation. The aim of discussion support is to:
build understanding between the adolescent or young adult, their family and loved ones

• support interaction between the adolescent or young adult and their loved ones
• give courage and hope and restore your sense of safety in a difficult situation
• facilitate communication and strengthen connections between the adolescent or young adult, their family, other loved ones and support networks
• strengthen your ability to identify your strengths and resources as well as your ability to find solutions to difficult situations.

The meetings can be held in different configurations: for example, the adolescent or young adult and their loved ones can attend meetings together or individually, or the parents of the adolescent or young adult can attend meetings together while the adolescent or young adult attends meetings alone. In any case, all the people involved play an important role in the success of the support, as solutions are often found together.

When we start working together, we prepare a plan that takes into account everyone's needs, resources and wishes. Together, we monitor the progress of the support and update the plan when necessary.

Here at the Youth Shelters, we understand the diversity and uniqueness of families and loved ones. We meet all kinds of families, including stepfamilies, single-parent families, bicultural families and LGBTQ families. We are committed to equality and strengthen our competence through training. In our work, we strive to create an atmosphere of trust and respect, where everyone can get the help they need.

How to get help

The shelters offering support for parents and loved ones are located in five different municipalities: Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Turku and Tampere. However, we also assist residents of other municipalities. We respond to contact requests every day, including in the evenings and at weekends.

In addition to the Youth Shelters, the Nettiturvis service also offers discussion support online throughout Finland. Nettiturvis offers help every day, with appointments also available in the evenings and at weekends.

You can contact the Youth Shelters by phone or via WhatsApp or email. The contact information of the Youth Shelters is provided here. You can also make a Nettiturvis appointment here.

When you first contact us, we will discuss how we can best help you. Contacting us does not bind you to anything.

You can meet with a worker in person at a Youth Shelter, remotely via Teams or talk with them on the phone. In the Nettiturvis service, you can meet with a worker via a video call or talk with them either via chat or with your camera turned off.

My concern over my adolescent was taken seriously and no one questioned or tried to downplay our situation. The help was concrete and the options were discussed together.