About Yeesi
Youth Mental Health Association Yeesi is Finland’s first national youth mental health organisation. Founded by young people in 2011, Yeesi is a youth-led community working to promote mental health, well-being, and participation among young people aged 13–29.
We believe that mental health is a resource, a life skill, and a part of everyday life. Everyone has mental health, and everyone can strengthen it. Mental well-being grows through meaningful relationships, a sense of belonging, opportunities to participate, and the confidence to influence one’s own life and community.
At Yeesi, young people are not just participants, they are the organisation. Our activities are planned, developed, and carried out by young people themselves. Through volunteering, peer activities, events, campaigns, and digital communities, young people learn mental health skills, build connections, and create positive change together.
Our work is based on the principle of young people for young people. We believe that young people are experts in their own lives and that their experiences, ideas, and perspectives are essential when building solutions for the future.
Alongside community-based activities, we advocate for a society that supports young people’s well-being, equality, and participation. We bring young people’s voices into public discussion and decision-making, and work together with schools, educational institutions, organisations, and other partners to promote mental health and inclusion.
Our vision is a future where every young person has the skills, opportunities, and support to strengthen their own mental health and the mental health of others. We want to see a society where mental health is valued, young people are heard, and everyone has the chance to thrive.
We promote mental health through action. Our work includes community-based volunteering, events, mentoring programmes for upper secondary students, workshops in educational institutions, campaigns, and online communities. We believe that everyone should be able to participate in ways that suit their own strengths, interests, and life situation. Whether it’s volunteering, learning mental health skills, meeting others, or creating change together, our activities are built around the idea that mental health grows through participation, connection, and meaningful experiences.
Most of our community activities take place online, where young people connect through social media and our volunteer community on Discord.