Wellbeing Desk and Wellbeing Chat for Aalto personnel

The Wellbeing Chat is an online service open from Monday to Friday from 1-2 pm (13-14). In the chat, you can get advice, ask questions and discuss matters related to wellbeing at work - anonymously and confidentially with an Aalto expert. In the chat, you can also discuss with Aalto’s Community Psychologist Merita Petäjä on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 1-2 pm. More about the Community Psychologist’s services, please see below.

The Wellbeing Chat can be found at the bottom right of this page. You must be logged in to aalto.fi. If the chat window does not appear, click the Cookie Settings link at the bottom of the page. Press “Customize”, allow the least functional cookies and choose “Allow”. After that, refresh the page. 

Come discuss with community psychologist – available for Aalto personnel!

Would you like to have someone to discuss the development of your work community or find support and information on wellbeing at work? Come and meet Community Psychologist Merita Petäjä in the Wellbeing Chat! Merita has worked for a long time as a study psychologist at Aalto so it is also possible to come to discuss matters regarding questions related to students. You don't need to have a specific problem, Merita can also provide you with a "bouncing ball wall" to help in structuring your thinking. 

Community psychologist Merita Petäjä is available in the Wellbeing Chat on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 1-2 pm. During the chat, you can also agree on possible further discussions. 

NOTE: the Community Psychologist is on break 16.-31.10.2024

Solution-focused coaching is short-term and practical work to bring about positive change with the support of a trained internal coach. In addition, solution-focused coaching strengthens the coachees' belief in their success and their own problem-solving skills. Solution-focus refers to progress-focus and future-orientation.

As an employee, you can take advantage of Aalto University's solution-focused coaching for different needs and situations where you experience challenges or if you want to achieve some goals, for example. in the following matters:

• Work motivation, career reflection
• Wellbeing at work, coping, recovery, stress management
• In matters related to self-management, such as time management, change management, resilience

Note! Solution-focused coaching is not therapy and hence it is not suitable for mental health challenges. Neither is coaching suitable for matters which are on employer's or supervisor's responsibility e.g. work arrangements.

Have you experienced harassment or inappropriate behaviour? Either yourself or your colleagues? Are you unsure whether what happened is harassment or inappropriate behaviour, or how the matter should be handled or taken forward?

The harassment contact persons for Aalto personnel are Mikko Raskinen ([email protected]) and Anne Petroff ([email protected]). You can also contact [email protected]. You can talk to harassment contact people completely confidentially, and your matter will not be taken forward without your consent. Harassment contact people support the person who has experienced or witnessed harassment or inappropriate treatment. They will aid in getting further help if the person who contacted them so wishes.

Do you have questions or development ideas related to the working environment or occupational safety? Occupational safety representatives represent employees in occupational safety and health matters. If you notice a deficiency in the safety, healthiness and tools of the working environment or need help in risk assessment, contact the occupational safety representative in your area. 

The shop stewards act as personnel representatives in Aalto's co-operation and provide support and advice e.g. in the field of Aalto cooperation. in matters related to the employment relationship or the interpretation of a collective agreement. 

Do you want to know what competence development opportunities we offer Aalto staff? How to access them? You will learn more about training, services and tools to support your development. 

[email protected]  

Academic guidance support is for you if you want to discuss situations related to teaching or guidance, or ways to support an individual student or student groups. Together, we can think about your role and the ways you can develop your own or the community's teaching and guidance skills - in ways that support your own wellbeing.

Contact: Tuuli Asunmaa, [email protected] 

Aalto chaplains offer conversational help to everyone, regardless of their belief or background. The work is defined by presence, listening and absolute confidentiality. We want to support the overall wellbeing of Aalto's personnel

[email protected], 050 365 2256 
[email protected] , 050 464 4375

In case of difficulties in making ends meet and finance, you can ask for advice from the deacons of the Tapiola parish via the emergency telephone Mon-Thu 9–15, tel. 09 8050 4400. You do not have to be a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church.

Carefree Shoulders is a refreshing 15-minute guided workout that unlocks stuck muscles with a special focus on the back and the shoulders. The workout is suitable for everybody, and you don't need exercise equipment. It is not necessary to reserve a place in advance.

• On campus 
  Carefree shoulders break exercise 
  • 13.30-13.45: Undergraduate centre (Otakaari 1), 2. floor, in front of Halls A and B
  • 14.00-14.15: Learning Centre, 2. floor (Otaniementie 9)
  • 14.30-14.45: Väre Lobby
• Online
  Carefree Shoulders break exercise session on Mondays at 12.15–12.30 and on Thursdays at 11.30–11.45. 
  The sessions are streamed through the Mywellness platform and participation they are free of charge. However, participation requires logging in to the platform.

The Wellbeing Route on campus invites you to relax for a moment and to reflect on what walking and the themes that arise along the way – observing emotions, nurturing a relationship with nature, embodiment, calming down and thinking about moderation – bring up.

The five locations of the wellbeing route are located in different parts of the outdoor areas of the campus. The route is open to everyone. Walk the route and listen to yourself, at your own pace. The wellbeing route walk takes about 15-20 minutes – it is not intended to be taken in a hurry.

You can download a map of the route in pdf:

https://www.aalto.fi/sites/g/files/flghsv161/files/2023-05/Wellness_route_ACRE_campus_map.pdf

With mindfulness and other mind and brain calming exercises, we can return to the present moment, pause with our own thoughts and body, and connect with the environment. This doesn't have to be difficult. Find our mindfulness material here.

Aalto University and UniSport offer the Break Pro break exercise program for all members of the Aalto community. Break Pro offers short and refreshing break exercise videos for pausing work. You can design your plan according to your own schedule. 

Compassion mentoring is peer group activity where compassion is explored and compassion and self-compassion skills are strengthened together with peers. The groups are led by a pair of doctoral students - compassion mentors - who are trained for this role. The activities in the groups include shared discussions and exercises on various compassion-related topics. 

The compassion mentoring model was originally developed in Nyyti ry's Compassion for Higher Education project. 

For more information, please contact Laura Miettinen, [email protected] 

Wellbeing and support

https://www.aalto.fi/en/doctoral-education/doctoral-student-wellbeing-and-support

Thesis and Tomatoes 

https://www.aalto.fi/fi/palvelut/hyvinvointia-ja-opiskelukykya-tukevat-ryhmat-tyopajat-ja-verkkomateriaalit 

Directory of wellbeing at work

https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/wellbeing-at-work-index

Support services for mental wellbeing

https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/mental-wellbeing-support-at-aalto

Competence development

https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/competence-development-index

Staff training

https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/staff-training

Pedagogical training

https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/aalto-university-pedagogical-training-for-teaching-faculty

Oasis of Radical Wellbeing project

https://www.aalto.fi/en/oasis-of-radical-wellbeing

Mieli ry's crisis helpline

https://mieli.fi/en/support-and-help/crisis-helpline/

Finnish Red Cross
Mental first aid: https://www.redcross.fi/get-help-and-support/psychological-first-aid/ 

Ukraine crisis: https://www.redcross.fi/get-help-and-support/psychological-first-aid/ukraine-crisis-may-feel-disturbing/ 

HelsinkiMissio: Crisis helpline for young people

https://www.helsinkimissio.fi/en/for-young-people/counselling-and-crisis-help/

Nyyti ry

https://www.nyyti.fi/en/

Mentalhub

https://www.mielenterveystalo.fi/en

The mental health toolkit (Finnish Institute of Occupational Health)

https://hyvatyo.ttl.fi/en/mental-health-toolkit