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Health promotion

Health promotion and cancer prevention are the main goals of the Cancer Society of Finland. Through its work, the organisation strives to reduce the risk of contracting cancer and the harms caused by cancer.

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The Cancer Society works to promote health in many fields. It seeks to influence social policy, general attitudes, social and healthcare practices, and individual choices. The Cancer Society provides expert knowledge on cancer prevention and health promotion. Health promotion campaigns are directed at a wide range of target groups.

One of the Cancer Society’s most important health promotion goals is to bring an end to the use of tobacco products and to prevent people from taking up the habit. Young people are a special target group in this work. Apart from the harmful effects of smoking, attention is paid to the risks caused by snus, e-cigarettes and passive smoking.

In recent years, the Cancer Society has also highlighted the importance of nutrition, exercise and weight management in cancer prevention. In addition, the organisation works to reduce the incidence of skin cancer and cervical cancer through its health promotion efforts. The organisation also strives to make people more aware of the carcinogenic properties of alcohol.

The Cancer Society cooperates with other organisations and authorities to promote health. The organisation also carries out international cooperation in health promotion work.

Health promotion campaigns are aimed at several different target groups.

Promoting the health of young people

Young people are one of the main target audiences for the Cancer Society of Finland’s health promotion work. Lifestyle has a significant impact on cancer risk. The lifestyles we adopt in adolescence and sustained throughout life play a major role in health and well-being.

Youth health promotion is conducted widely through a variety of means for different target groups:

  • The Fressis service (in Finnish) provides young people with a wide range of information and encourages a nicotine-free life and healthy lifestyle. Fressis covers all the main issues to do with health promotion and cancer prevention: tobacco and nicotine products, nutrition, alcohol, sexual health, sun protection, exercise, daily routine, and mental wellbeing. Fressis includes the fressis.fi website and social media channels (Instagram, YouTube).

    The content of the Fressis website and social media as well as campaigns bolster young people’s knowledge and skills. They can also receive individual guidance on health-related matters from the Ask an Expert service (in Finnish). The Tobacco body website details the harm that cigarettes and snuff do to the body and the benefits of not using or quitting them. The Tobacco body site is available on seven languages online and via mobile.

    Erovirasto (Quitting agency) is a free app for helping young people who smoke or use snuff to quit. The app allows the young user to make a 30-day quitting experiment and to get advice and support along the way.

  • The FressisEdu website provides a range of materials and tools to promote youth wellbeing and being nicotine-free. The site’s content supports health education and, more broadly, the development of the overall educational environment, youth work and sports club activities.

  • Educational institutions and adults working at them have significant scope to influence the health behaviour of young people. Using the Nikotiiniton amis (nicotine-free vocational college) model, vocational colleges can help nurture a culture and environment that promotes nicotine-free behaviour. The model was developed based on the Namis project, which was run at Savo Vocational College in Kuopio from 2018–2020 in liaison with the Cancer Society of North Savo and the City of Kuopio’s substance abuse prevention work.

  • Sports clubs are important growth environments for young people in becoming independent. It is important that such clubs provide their athletes with health-promoting settings. Coaches and club officials have a prominent role in maintaining a healthy environment. The aim of the snuff-free sport model is to raise awareness among sports clubs and sports operators about the harm caused by snuff and the issues associated with snuff use. It includes tools for club officials and coaches to promote snuff-free sport in their day-to-day work. Cancer Society staff spread details of the model to sports clubs in their regions.

  • Hyvä päivä activities increase knowledge and skills for healthy lifestyles among young people (under 29 years) outside work and study, thus reducing their risk of being diagnosed with major common diseases, such as cancer. The Hyvä päivä group is grounded in young people’s own strengths and interest in changing their lifestyle. The meetings emphasise the importance of healthy nutrition, exercise, daily rhythm and mental wellbeing. The participants also prepare a healthy meal and exercise together. The group materials are available on the Hyvä päivä website for instructors. Between meetings, young people do small, health-promoting experiments in their daily lives. Most often the Good Day group activities are carried out as part of the municipal youth services and the Ohjaamo (One-Stop Guidance Centre) activities.

    Many times a year, the Cancer Society of Finland organises Good Day instructor training for professionals working with young people. This training reinforces knowledge of healthy living and lifestyle changes among professionals working with young people.  Good Day activities are nationwide.

    Good Day activities can also be taken to different settings, such as vocational schools for students at risk of dropping out. Good Day group activities can also be held remotely.