Services for survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence

No one has to put up with violence. Fortunately, help is available for both those who have committed violence and those who have experienced it. Shame cannot be an obstacle.

On this page

What is violence in close relationships?

Violence in close relationships refers to violence committed and experienced by persons who are in a close relationship with one another. This type of violence can be directed at a partner, a child or a close relative. The violence may be physical, psychological, financial or sexual. Violence in close relationships can affect anyone, regardless of social class, culture, age or gender. Its consequences are long-lasting and serious.

Fortunately, help is available for both those who have experienced violence in close relationships and those who have committed it. Assistance is provided by, for example, the City of Helsinki, organisations and the police. The assistance can be personal or peer support in groups, for example. There is help for everyone.

Services provided by the City

When you visit the city's social and health care services, you can always discuss matters related to violence with a professional. Help is available to both those who have experienced domestic violence and those who have used it.

  1. Crisis emergency services

    Crisis emergency services helps in sudden, serious crisis situations, such as the sudden death of a loved one, fire or other accidents, being subjected to violence or a serious injury or illness.

    Open every day around the clock. Call charge: standard telephone charges apply

    Call 09 3104 4222

    Visit the website of the Crisis emergency services page

  2. Emergency social services

    Emergency social services is an on-call social welfare authority outside office hours. We assess the need for urgent social welfare in Helsinki and, if necessary, arrange the necessary services related to it.

    Open 24 hours every day. Standard telephone charge.

    Call 0206 96006

    Visit the website of the Emergency social services

  3. Our services for families with children

    If your family has a difficult life situation and you need support, contact the assessment of the need for child welfare and special support.

    If you are concerned about your own well-being or the well-being of a child growing up in your immediate environment, contact child welfare.

    If you are a student and need help, contact the school social worker and psychologist services.

  4. Our services for young people and adults

  5. Our services for the elderly

    If you are over 65 years of age or a loved one of an elderly person and need advice and service guidance, please contact Senior Info, tel. 09 310 44556 .

    If you need support in everyday life, check out the service centre activities.

  6. Notification of concern

    Do you have concerns about your loved one or another person you meet? You can submit a report of concern if you are concerned about this person's well-being, health or safety. The social services will investigate the situation and offer him help. You can submit a report of concern anonymously or under your own name.

    Read more about the notification of concern

Services provided by organisations and other operators

General help phones and chats

Nollalinja

Free helpline and chat for those who have experienced domestic violence and violence against women, their loved ones and professionals. The person contacting us always has the option to remain anonymous if they wish. Contact Nollalinja, tel. 080 005 005 .

Nollalinja

RIKU Rikosuhripäivystys

Free helpline and chat. Advice and support for victims of crime, their loved ones and witnesses. Contact Victim Support Finland, tel. 116006 .

RIKU

Nettiturvakoti

The Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters' online service and chat. Information and discussion support for all parties involved in violence and their loved ones.

The Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelter

Nettiturvakoti (in Finnish)

Help for Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults

Telephone, chat and online letter for children and young people

The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare's help and support for everyone under the age of 25. You can contact us anonymously every day of the year about anything. The same number is available in the evenings by the Youth Support Line, which offers help and support to young people aged 12-20. The call is free of charge. Contact the children's and young people's helpline, tel. 116 111(Link starts a call) .

Nuortennetti

Naisten linja

Free helpline and chat. For women and girls who have experienced violence and their loved ones. Contact the Women's Helpline, tel. 0800 02400(Link starts a call) .

Naisten linja

Sekasin chat

Mieli ry's discussion service for 12–29-year-olds.

Sekasin

OnksOK chat

The Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters provides information and support for children under the age of 18 when they are struggling at home or in a relationship.

Onks ok 

Nettiturvis

The Finnish Red Cross provides online discussion support for young people aged 12–29 and their loved ones by appointment.

Nettiturvis

Sua varten somessa (For you on social media)

Loisto Setlementti ry's individual and group support for young people aged 12-21 who have experienced sexual harassment, harassment and bullying directly on social media platforms.

Sua varten somessa

Sexual violence work

Loisto Setlementti ry's professionally guided peer support and individual support for young people aged 13–28 living in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area who have been subjected to sexual violence. Support and advice for loved ones and professionals.

Sexual health and sexual violence work

Välitä! Sexual violence work

Setlementti Tampere ry's support for people aged 17 and over who have experienced sexual violence, those who have committed it and their loved ones. Contact Care! support, tel. 045 279 8090 .

Välitä!

Nollalinja

Nollalinja is a nationwide, anonymous and free helpline for people who have experienced violence in close relationships or violence against women, as well as their families and professionals. You can call the service anonymously: you do not need to give your own name and the person answering the phone does not see the caller's number. The call also does not show up on your phone bill. The Nollalinja helpline is open 24/7 every day of the year on +358 80 005 005 . The Nollalinja chat service is available on weekdays. Interpreters are available around the clock.

Nollalinja

Naisten linja – Women's Line

The Women’s Line provides free and confidential support to women and girls who have experienced violence, as well as their loved ones. Through our helpline 0800 02400 and chat service, you can speak anonymously with trained volunteers.

By appointment, you can receive support from professionals specialising in violence-related work, either remotely or in person. Support can range from a single session to long-term work lasting over a year. We also offer peer support through online groups and in-person meetings in Helsinki, as well as specialised assistance for those who have experienced digital violence. 

Women's Line

Crisis Center Monika

 Crisis Center Monika provides support and assistance to women and children with immigrant backgrounds who have experienced violence in a close relationship.​ You can call  +358 800 05058 , visit the centre or contact the centre online from Monday to Friday. Service in multiple languages.

Crisis Center Monika

Miessakit Association’s Väkivaltaa Kokeneet Miehet

The Väkivaltaa kokeneet miehet project provides assistance to men who have experienced mental or physical violence at home or on the street. Discussion support is available by phone and email, and through one-to-one meetings and guided peer group meetings. Service in Finnish and English.

Väkivaltaa Kokeneet Miehet (in Finnish)

Raiskauskriisikeskus Tukinainen

Raiskauskriisikeskus Tukinainen provides support, assistance and counselling to victims of sexual offences, their loved ones and those working with the victims.

Raiskauskriisikeskus Tukinainen

Victim Support Finland

Victim Support Finland can provide support and counselling for victims of crime, their loved ones and witnesses in criminal cases. There are also support persons available free of charge. You can also contact them anonymously.

Victim Support Finland

Seri Support Center

The Seri Support Center at Women's Hospital is a support unit for people over 16 years of age, regardless of gender, who have experienced sexual violence. It is a low-threshold service that you can seek out yourself, with relatives or under the guidance of a public authority within one month of your traumatic experience.

Seri Support Center

SafetyNet Helsinki

SafetyNet Helsinki is a low-threshold service operating in the Helsinki metropolitan area for adults and/or children who have experienced violence or the threat of violence in a close relationship. SafetyNet Helsinki provides professional support and information towards coping with experiences of violence. The service is free of charge for the customer and the guiding municipality. Those in need of help can contact SafetyNet Helsinki directly.

SafetyNet Helsinki (in Finnish)

Sopu work for the prevention of honour-related violence / Loisto setlementti ry               

We engage in preventive and crisis work on honour-related violence and support those in need of long-term support. We work primarily with those who have experienced violence, but also with the perpetrators and other family members if necessary. The service is provided in Finnish and Swedish and in several other languages.

Sopu work

Miessakit Association’s Lyömätön Linja


Lyömätön Linja is a service specialising in domestic violence and violence in other close relationships to help men who use physical or mental violence against their loved ones or fear that they will do so. The work takes the form of one-to-one meetings either face-to-face or by video call, supplemented by couples and group meetings where appropriate. Support is also available by telephone and online. Service in Finnish and English.

Lyömätön linja (in Finnish)

Lyömätön Linja Espoossa / Miehen Linja

Miehen Linja serves immigrant men who have used or fear that they might use violence in their families. Miehen Linja specialises in culturally sensitive work with men. Service in multiple languages. We can use an interpreter if necessary.

Miehen Linja

Maria Akatemia ry / naisenvakivalta.fi

Support for women who use or fear that they might use violence, as well as for professionals who encounter different forms of violence and related phenomena in their work or work communities.

Maria Akatemia (in Finnish)

Domestic Violence Counselling Unit / Pääkaupungin turvakoti ry
 

Community services, namely one-to-one, couples and family meetings for victims and perpetrators of violence in close relationships, as well as their children and loved ones. Interpretation is available.

Pääkaupungin turvakoti ry

Helsinki Parishes’ Family Counselling

Professional help with relationship problems and life crises. The service is available in Finnish, Swedish and English.

Helsinki Parishes' Family Counselling (in Finnish)

Mieli Mental Health Finland’s Crisis Helpline

Mieli Mental Health Finland’s Crisis Helpline is available in English on  +358 9 2525 0116 . The service is also available in other languages (check the phone numbers and opening hours on the website). You can call the Crisis Helpline anonymously and confidentially.

Mieli Mental Health Finland’s Crisis Helpline

Online Shelter

Online Shelter is an online service maintained by the Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters. Online Shelter helps all parties involved in violence by providing them with information, discussion support and stories about domestic violence and violence in close relationships and how to pull through. The website also helps children and young people who have witnessed or been victims of violence. On the website, you will find chats dedicated to the target groups of the campaign: Apua väkivaltaan chat (for perpetrators of violence) and Lasten ja nuorten chat (for children and young people).

You can come to the chats to discuss violence anonymously and with a low threshold.

Online Shelter (in Finnish)

Suvanto ry

Counselling, discussion support and peer support groups for older people involved in violence and abuse and their loved ones. The Suvantolinja helpline, +358 800 06776, offers service in Finnish and English.

Suvanto ry (in Finnish)

VÄLITÄ! Sexual violence services

Välitä! provides crisis assistance to victims and perpetrators of sexual violence and their loved ones. Help is provided by phone, at meetings and in open group chats at the online crisis centre Tukinet. You can participate in the support groups organised by Välitä! from anywhere in Finland. The services are confidential and free of charge.

VÄLITÄ! Sexual violence services 

Red Cross Youth Shelters

Youth Shelters help young people and their communities around the clock, every day of the year. The Youth Shelters provide young people and those close to them with support for everyday life, family conflicts or other problems. Help is available quickly and free of charge. The service is available in Finnish, Swedish and English.

Red Cross Youth Shelters

Lasten ja nuorten puhelin ja chat (Helpline and chat for children and young people)

Lasten ja nuorten puhelin ja chat is a free, anonymous and confidential telephone and chat service to talk about anything you want. The service is intended for people under 25 years of age and is open every day of the year. The service is provided in Finnish. 

Lasten ja nuorten puhelin ja chat (in Finnish)

Nuorten tukilinja (Youth helpline)

Nuorten tukilinja is on call in the evenings on the same number as Lasten ja nuorten puhelin (tel. 116 111) and provides professional help for young people in difficult situations. The service is provided in Finnish.

MLL Nuortennetti (in Finnish)

Poikien Talo (City of Helsinki)

Poikien Talo (Boys' House) is a safe, non-discriminatory, bullying-free and open community for boys, men and those thinking about their identity as a boy between the ages of 10 and 28. The purpose of Poikien Talo is to support you in a way that you feel is best for you, so that you can live your life as yourself, following your own dreams.

Poikien Talo (in Finnish)

Tyttöjen Talo (Loisto Setlementti)

Tyttöjen Talo (Girls’ House) is intended for anyone between the ages of 10 and 29 identifying as a girl or woman or thinking about their identity as a girl. Tyttöjen Talo offers facilities for recreation and hobbies, as well as help and support if something is troubling you or you are going through something difficult. Service in Finnish and English.

Tyttöjen Talo (in Finnish)

OnksOk

OnksOk is an online service maintained by the Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters that provides information and support for young people experiencing difficulties at home or with people close to them. The website provides information on violence in families, friendships and relationships, and parents’ separation. The website also includes a chat for children and young people, where young people can talk about their concerns and questions related to violence in close relationships or their parents’ separation with a low threshold. The website is in Finnish.

OnksOk (in Finnish)

Sophie Mannerheim’s Shelter

Sophie Mannerheim's Shelter is a 24/7, homelike place maintained by the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare Helsinki, where a person who has experienced violence or the threat of violence can receive protection and help to end the violence.

Sophie Mannerheim’s Shelter (in Finnish)

Shelters Hertta, Tilkka and Pellas

Pääkaupungin turvakoti ry’s shelters Hertta, Tilkka and Pellas offer immediate crisis support, 24-hour shelter services and psychosocial support, counselling and guidance in emergencies, regardless of gender or age. At the shelters, a person who has experienced violence can talk one-to-one with a worker specialised in violence work. Support for the post-shelter phase is available at the Kilpola Housing Unit’s supported housing service.

Pääkaupungin turvakoti ry

Shelter Mona

Shelter Mona provides crisis support and safe housing in several languages in Finland’s only shelter located at a secret address and dedicated exclusively to women and children.

You can call the shelter and seek its protection from anywhere in Finland if it is dangerous for you to stay at home or in your local community because of violence. Telephone:  +358 45 6396 274  (24/7)

Service in multiple languages. Interpretation is also available.

Shelter Mona

Do you recognise violence against yourself?

It could be violence if...

  • you cannot be yourself at home
  • someone makes you feel worthless
  • you are scared at home, at school or with friends
  • you are not taken care of
  • your bodily integrity has been violated.

Support and help is available.

Do you recognise violence caused by you in close relationships?

Support and help is available if...

  • you scream, rage or break things
  • you belittle, threaten or blackmail a loved one
  • you control the activities, spending or relationships of a loved one
  • you are physically violent towards a loved one
  • you perform sexual acts against the will of the other person.

More information and guides

Domestic violence
The police provide advice and instructions for those who have experienced violence or fear of being a victim of violence.
Prevention of violence (Finnish institute for health and welfare, in Finnish)
Information about what violence is and how to prevent it, as well as tools and forms for practical work.
Prevention of violence in close relationships
More information from the City of Helsinki.

You can also find this page at hel.fi/helpforviolence .