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Telegraph
5 days ago
- Telegraph
Forget saunas, I found out the real reason why Finland is the world's happiest country
We all know about the role of saunas, nature and near-incorruptible politicians in Finland's long-running status as the world's happiest country. As a frequent visitor, however, I've long held the notion that strong women are the real reason why Finland has held the title for eight years in a row. In a bid to confirm my theory, earlier this month – with crayfish grilling on countless barbecues and akvavit flowing – I met up with some of the country's womenfolk. In a Helsinki side street bathed in razor-sharp midsummer sunlight, I had lunch with Jennifer de Paola, who told me that science seems to correlate my home-grown hypothesis. 'Some of the world's happiest countries, such as Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway, are also the most gender-equal,' she told me as we ploughed through roasted sweet potatoes topped with toasted hazelnuts at Yes! Yes! Yes! – a restaurant whose enthusiastic name seemed fitting for a meeting with a University of Helsinki happiness researcher. The index, which is evaluated via a Gallup World Poll, asks people in more than 150 countries to rate their happiness on a scale of 1 to 10 via questions addressing everything from freedom to make life choices to perception of corruption. 'Studies from the University of Eastern Finland show Finnish women experience greater life satisfaction and a stronger sense of meaningfulness than men – and they're not afraid to say so, which must affect the country's ratings, too,' Paola told me. Tough times 'Because of our difficult history, Finnish women are tough, and we know how to make the best of our lives,' opined sisters Sofia and Ella, who I met at Kahvila Rakastan, a café on the outskirts of Helsinki. They craft Karelian pastries (karjalanpiirakat) using the recipes of their grandmother, who lived through the Soviet invasion in 1939. The quirky little vintage-style kahvila sits in the flower-strewn courtyard of Hakasalmi, an elegant villa that belonged to another of the country's powerful women: Aurora Karamzin. 'She was a 19th-century socialite and knew all of our emperors, but when she inherited a huge fortune she used it to help other women,' Ella told me. 'She was committed all her life to women's education and social reform.' Leaving Helsinki's monumental railway station the following day I travelled – via pastures and pine forests with impossibly quaint log cabins – to Tampere, a lovely, lively city with lakeside saunas and riverside events which could be a strong contender for the title of 'happiness capital'. Former Prime Minister Sanna Marin was raised in this southern Finnish city by her mother, and her mother's female partner. I asked Minna Merikoski, Tampere's International Affairs Specialist, if it was a coincidence that Finland topped the World Happiness Report for the first time in 2018, just before Marin and her female-majority cabinet came to power. Merikoski, who oversees the city's innovative International Gender Equality Prize, didn't think so. 'Their policies focused on equality, work-life balance, and social welfare, and bolstered well-being even during the Covid crisis,' she told me. At Ravintola Tampella, a restaurant surrounded by the textile mills which earned Tampere its 19th-century nickname, the Manchester of the North, I met up with Miia Huitti, founder of The Finnish Happiness Institute. As we enjoyed one of those sun-soaked midsummer evenings where you can't tell if it's 5pm or 5am, Huitti told me that her own findings showed that women leaders feel that more is expected of them than men. 'But in 1906 Finland was Europe's first country (and one of the first in the world) to give women the vote, and we have plenty of resilient female role models, so that helps,' she added. Naked logic The following day, Heli Kurjanen, inventor of the Lunette menstrual cup and co-founder of intimate skin care company Augusta Nordic invited me to lunch at Ravintola Gösta in the lake-strewn countryside near Mänttä. She told me how she started Lunette with an entrepreneur loan when she was a 25-year-old stay-at-home mother without any formal business training. 'It's easier to address personal issues here in Finland because our progressive school system means people are less repressed,' she said. 'Also, with our saunas women are comfortable with their bodies – we undress in front of each other every week and it's totally natural. I think it's part of what makes us happy as a nation.' Päivi Viherkoski, developer of the Routes of Nordic Women, guided tours that allow foreign visitors to meet local women, agreed: 'We have a different way of dealing with many issues. For a start, I think we're happier because we generally don't bother with makeup and we dress in a casual, practical way, so we can go out foraging in the forest whenever we want to.' Tampere is also home to the world's only Moomin Museum, dedicated to the work of comic strip creator Tove Jansson, who was renowned for her independent stance on many issues. 'She was gay at a time when it was illegal and she denounced Stalin and the Nazis in many of her cartoons, but she also loved nature – so she was a typical Finn,' biologist Anna Nyman, owner of Foraging in Finland, told me later as we fossicked in the hedgerows of a Helsinki park. Nyman agreed with my theory. 'We do have so many strong women and it does make a difference,' she said as we picked nettles. 'Take jokamiehenoikeudet – the right to forage. 'It was won for us in the early 20th century by a widowed mother-of-three, Ilma Kendgren. And foraging is one of the major reasons Finns are so content.' How to do it Flights from Gatwick to Helsinki with Scandinavian Airlines cost from £113. Solo by Sokos Torni in Tampere has rooms from £147 per night, including breakfast. Solo by Sokos Helsinki has rooms from £124 per night, including breakfast.
The Herald Scotland
03-07-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
U.S. slides to lowest spot in 2025 World Happiness Report
Based on a population's average evaluation of their quality of life from 2022 to 2024, this year's study data ranks 147 nations according to their happiness levels. The rankings are primarily based on data from the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford and Gallup World Poll, which asks respondents to rate their present level of happiness. Which countries are happy enough to make into the Top 20? As the United States slumped to 24th, Mexico and Costa Rico hopped into the top 10 for the first time since the report's introduction in 2012. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. U.S. drops in World Happiness Report According to the study, "the rise in political polarization and votes against 'the system'" was a factor that caused the United States and other European nations to fall in the rankings. "We show that the countrywide evolution of happiness and trust is highly associated with the rise in the likelihood of voting for anti-system parties in Western Europe and the United States," according to the authors' report. Individual life evaluations are especially poor in nations such as Afghanistan, which ranks last in overall happiness. Afghanistan's happiness score in the 2025 report was 1.36 out of 10. Afghanistan has been at the bottom of the World Happiness Report for six consecutive years. How the U.S. compare on the happiness scale The report also found that as the number of single-person households have grown in the past two decades, the number of people eating alone has increased 53%, which can lead to more loneliness. According to the survey, eating with others is strongly associated with well-being. What increases happiness in countries? Several factors are linked to overall well-being, from meal-sharing to income and employment status, according to the report. The report says households of four to five people typically enjoy the highest happiness levels in Mexico and Europe, though many people in Europe live on their own. Researchers also suggest social connections are vital for young adults to avoid the toxic effects of stress. The report suggests that countries where acts of generosity and kindness are frequent often lead to fewer despair-related deaths such as suicides or drug overdoses. CONTRIBUTING Anthony Robeldo
USA Today
02-07-2025
- General
- USA Today
U.S. drops in global happiness rankings, and political polarization is partly to blame
The United States isn't feeling too happy lately. Since 2012, the mood in the United States has been on the decline, sliding from 11th to 24th in the global rankings, according to Gallup's 2025 World Happiness Report. Finland holds the top spot for the eighth consecutive year. Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and the Netherlands round out the top five happiest countries. Based on a population's average evaluation of their quality of life from 2022 to 2024, this year's study data ranks 147 nations according to their happiness levels. The rankings are primarily based on data from the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford and Gallup World Poll, which asks respondents to rate their present level of happiness. Which countries are happy enough to make into the Top 20? As the United States slumped to 24th, Mexico and Costa Rico hopped into the top 10 for the first time since the report's introduction in 2012. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. U.S. drops in World Happiness Report According to the study, "the rise in political polarization and votes against 'the system'" was a factor that caused the United States and other European nations to fall in the rankings. "We show that the countrywide evolution of happiness and trust is highly associated with the rise in the likelihood of voting for anti-system parties in Western Europe and the United States," according to the authors' report. Individual life evaluations are especially poor in nations such as Afghanistan, which ranks last in overall happiness. Afghanistan's happiness score in the 2025 report was 1.36 out of 10. Afghanistan has been at the bottom of the World Happiness Report for six consecutive years. How the U.S. compare on the happiness scale The report also found that as the number of single-person households have grown in the past two decades, the number of people eating alone has increased 53%, which can lead to more loneliness. According to the survey, eating with others is strongly associated with well-being. What increases happiness in countries? Several factors are linked to overall well-being, from meal-sharing to income and employment status, according to the report. The report says households of four to five people typically enjoy the highest happiness levels in Mexico and Europe, though many people in Europe live on their own. Researchers also suggest social connections are vital for young adults to avoid the toxic effects of stress. The report suggests that countries where acts of generosity and kindness are frequent often lead to fewer despair-related deaths such as suicides or drug overdoses. CONTRIBUTING Anthony Robeldo
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Relief Mental Health Addresses the Silent Crisis During Men's Mental Health Month
OAK BROOK, lll., June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- June marks Men's Mental Health Month, a time to raise awareness and reduce stigma around the mental health challenges that men face—often in silence. Relief Mental Health, with 12 outpatient clinics across Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey and Wisconsin, is committed to helping men access personalized, evidence-based care through psychiatry, therapy, and innovative treatments like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), SPRAVATO® (esketamine) and ketamine infusions. The Silent Struggle According to a data brief from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), nearly 1 in 10 men reported daily feelings of anxiety or depression. However, only about 41 percent of these men took medication for these feelings or had recently talked to a mental health professional. Men are four times more likely than women to die by suicide. Additionally, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) reports that this accounts for about 70% of all suicide deaths. In Illinois, the suicide rate for men increased by 3.5% from 2020 to 2021, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. A recent Gallup World Poll analysis found that 25 percent of young U.S. men (ages 15 to 34) reported feeling lonely for much of the prior day, compared to 18 percent of women in the same age group. Treatment that Respects Men's Preferences and Needs At Relief Mental Health, male patients often have the option to work with male providers—something many find more comfortable when opening up about personal issues. Dan Lowder, PA-C, ATC, a psychiatric physician assistant who treats patients as young as 10 at Relief's Orland Park, Ill. clinic, also has a background in athletic training and frequently works with men and adolescent males experiencing sports-related and performance anxiety. "In addition to medication management, I often utilize SPRAVATO®—a nasal spray form of ketamine—for adults with treatment-resistant depression," Lowder explains. "And for men who are hesitant about medications due to side effects—especially sexual dysfunction—TMS therapy can be a game-changer. It doesn't affect the whole body like medications do; it specifically targets the brain regions involved in mood." Why TMS is a Powerful Option for Men TMS is a FDA-cleared, non-invasive treatment for depression, OCD and other diagnoses that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate underactive areas of the brain. Unlike medication, TMS has no systemic side effects, meaning it doesn't impact libido or cause weight gain, sedation, or digestive issues—a concern for many male patients. Relief Mental Health offers TMS therapy at all of its locations, along with psychiatric evaluation, medication management, therapy, and SPRAVATO® treatment. With a multidisciplinary team across four states, Relief ensures that men from all walks of life can find effective, personalized mental health care. For more information about Relief Mental Health or to schedule a consultation for any of its services, individuals can call 855.205.4764, email info@ or visit About Relief Mental Health Relief Mental Health is a leading outpatient provider of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), SPRAVATO® (esketamine), IV ketamine, psychiatry, and therapy, for the treatment of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and other diagnoses. Founded in January 2020 and dedicated to delivering expedited care, Relief aims to create a new standard for mental health care, offering a continuum of innovative therapeutic interventions and responding to evolving patient needs. For more information, visit CONTACT: Melanie EilersChief Marketing Officermelanie@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Relief Mental Health Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Relief Mental Health Addresses the Silent Crisis During Men's Mental Health Month
OAK BROOK, lll., June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- June marks Men's Mental Health Month, a time to raise awareness and reduce stigma around the mental health challenges that men face—often in silence. Relief Mental Health, with 12 outpatient clinics across Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey and Wisconsin, is committed to helping men access personalized, evidence-based care through psychiatry, therapy, and innovative treatments like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), SPRAVATO® (esketamine) and ketamine infusions. The Silent Struggle According to a data brief from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), nearly 1 in 10 men reported daily feelings of anxiety or depression. However, only about 41 percent of these men took medication for these feelings or had recently talked to a mental health professional. Men are four times more likely than women to die by suicide. Additionally, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) reports that this accounts for about 70% of all suicide deaths. In Illinois, the suicide rate for men increased by 3.5% from 2020 to 2021, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. A recent Gallup World Poll analysis found that 25 percent of young U.S. men (ages 15 to 34) reported feeling lonely for much of the prior day, compared to 18 percent of women in the same age group. Treatment that Respects Men's Preferences and Needs At Relief Mental Health, male patients often have the option to work with male providers—something many find more comfortable when opening up about personal issues. Dan Lowder, PA-C, ATC, a psychiatric physician assistant who treats patients as young as 10 at Relief's Orland Park, Ill. clinic, also has a background in athletic training and frequently works with men and adolescent males experiencing sports-related and performance anxiety. "In addition to medication management, I often utilize SPRAVATO®—a nasal spray form of ketamine—for adults with treatment-resistant depression," Lowder explains. "And for men who are hesitant about medications due to side effects—especially sexual dysfunction—TMS therapy can be a game-changer. It doesn't affect the whole body like medications do; it specifically targets the brain regions involved in mood." Why TMS is a Powerful Option for Men TMS is a FDA-cleared, non-invasive treatment for depression, OCD and other diagnoses that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate underactive areas of the brain. Unlike medication, TMS has no systemic side effects, meaning it doesn't impact libido or cause weight gain, sedation, or digestive issues—a concern for many male patients. Relief Mental Health offers TMS therapy at all of its locations, along with psychiatric evaluation, medication management, therapy, and SPRAVATO® treatment. With a multidisciplinary team across four states, Relief ensures that men from all walks of life can find effective, personalized mental health care. For more information about Relief Mental Health or to schedule a consultation for any of its services, individuals can call 855.205.4764, email info@ or visit About Relief Mental Health Relief Mental Health is a leading outpatient provider of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), SPRAVATO® (esketamine), IV ketamine, psychiatry, and therapy, for the treatment of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and other diagnoses. Founded in January 2020 and dedicated to delivering expedited care, Relief aims to create a new standard for mental health care, offering a continuum of innovative therapeutic interventions and responding to evolving patient needs. For more information, visit CONTACT: Melanie EilersChief Marketing Officermelanie@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Relief Mental Health Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
