Rehabilitation support
All injuries sustained on deployments should be treated and the treatment covered by state compensation, as the injuries were sustained in state service. However, due to changed terms of reference, fragmented national legislation and compensation criteria, this is not always the case.
In Finland, the duration of psychotherapy reimbursement has been determined to be only for one year, although international studies on (c-)PTSD show that the need for therapy is individual and may continue for years.
Sometimes psychological symptoms appear later, several months or even years after the trauma. The window for diagnosing the trauma as service related has been limited to symptoms that occur maximum six months after service, because otherwise it is more difficult to establish a causal relationship. However, it is possible that symptoms only begin years after the event(s). (According to Duodecim Health Library)
The association supports its members annually by arranging opportunities for week-long physical rehabilitation sessions in the spring and autumn and by compensating a part of the members’ psychotherapy. Currently the association is trying to find possibilities to support its members also with physiotherapy.
Rehabilitation is supported by membership fees, donations and support from foundations.
Psychological support services
If you feel you need support after your discharge from service, for example due to psychological symptoms, stress or adjustment difficulties, please do the following:
- Contact the Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic of the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS) by phone, which acts as the national coordinator of the support:
HUS Psychiatric Consultation Outpatient Clinic
TEL 09-47173511 (Mon-Thu 9 am-3 pm, Fri 9 am-1 pm) - You do not need a doctor’s referral or payment commitment for an assessment of your need for treatment. The assessment is free of charge and reasonable travel costs incurred will also be reimbursed by the State Treasury.
- Your personal information will not be disclosed to the Defence Forces.
- For further treatment, you will need a payment commitment from the State Treasury. Submit it to the provider of the treatment.
- Ask the provider to send the treatment summary to:
State Treasury
Compensation Services
P.O. Box 250
00054 State Treasury
If you cannot find a therapist in your area or nearby, contact the Peacekeepers’ Association’s peer coordinator. Together with our partners, we will find a solution to your situation.
According to the law, those who have been deployed are compensated for the costs of psychological support for a year. Compensation for another illness that is causally related to service can be compensated for a longer period. Reasonable travel costs for treatment are also compensated. These are mainly costs incurred from the use of public transport. For more information about the agreement, please visit the State Treasury website valtiokonttori.fi , by email vahko.sotilaat@valtiokonttori.fi or by phone: 0295 50 3060 ( 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ).