HUS as a promoter of health and wellbeing

Promoting health and wellbeing is a value-based and goal-oriented activity. The goal is to maintain and improve health and wellbeing, and to prevent illness by increasing the ability and opportunity of individuals, the community and the general population to take care of their own health and that of their environment. Promoting health and wellbeing requires extensive cooperation between different actors as well as meticulous planning of resource allocation. 

Inclusion is a key factor in determining health and wellbeing and therefore involves all of us. It is about working as a part of the social systems, such as education and labor market systems. The areas of inclusion are participation in one’s own life, participation in influence processes, and involvement in the local good. Inclusion is manifested as appreciation, as an individual’s experience of belonging to a group or entity that is relevant to themselves, and as an opportunity to make a difference. 

We can decrease the gap between differences in health and wellbeing through measures that promote health and wellbeing. If socioeconomic health inequalities were eliminated, the savings in direct health care costs would be around EUR 1.5–2 billion or 15% of total health care expenditure. 

We work in the health and wellbeing group at the Uusimaa level together with the wellbeing services counties in Uusimaa and Helsinki. The group’s goal is to collaborate in an effective way to promote the health, wellbeing, and everyday safety of the residents of Uusimaa. The group’s activities support the shift in focus from extensive services to preventive work. We collaborate regionally with educational institutions, organizations and stakeholders in health and wellbeing research, development, and training. 

We implement Hyvä kierre activities to support the use of policies that impact health and wellbeing. We are highlighting current topics in the theme morning events for health and wellbeing. Other forms of activity include the Hyvä kierre theme days and a Teams platform to share health and wellbeing information and material. We communicate information about our activities on this website, in the Hyvä kierre newsletter, and on social media @hyvakierre.