My Oulu: Nearly a quarter of a million investment in students’ well-being

With funding, the Student Union will continue the wellbeing tutoring project that began in 2021, which will provide peer-led hobbies for students.

In addition, student guidance will be developed by strengthening the competencies of the supervisors of degree programs and increasing the resources for supervision. Low-threshold support services aim to reach students at risk of dropping out of school, and support attachment to study and study skills through both individual guidance and group activities.
 
Well-being tutoring is peer-to-peer tutoring. Tutors are trained for their role and receive support to act as a tutor. For example, you can try out new hobbies, learn new skills or take part in cultural events together with other students.
 
Kauko Keskisärkkä, Secretary General of the Student Union, is pleased that the Ministry of Education and Culture has recognized the need to improve the well-being of university students.

“With the grant now received, OYY’s wellbeing tutoring and additional resources for the University of Oulu’s study psychology services will most likely continue until the end of 2023. However, improving mental health and well-being must not be left to projects, but must be a long-term activity,” says Keskisärkkä in the press release.
 
“With our support, we invest in supporting our tutor teachers so that they can support students in their own degree programs. The need for special supervision has increased significantly,” says Kaisa Karhu, Development Manager at the University of Oulu.

According to a recent study by THL, students’ mental symptoms are alarmingly common. There have been problems before Covid-19, and the pandemic has increased stress and loneliness.