Episode Details

For this episode of the podcast I spoke with Markus Raivio, a social entrepreneur and Ashoka Fellow who is leading a groundbreaking re-imagination of mental health care in the context of community in Finland. In our conversation, we explore Markus' journey from being a high school dropout and aspiring young musician and early experiences as a music producer, nurse, and music therapist. Today, Markus is the co-founder and CEO of Kukunori, a "national association for culture and well-being" in Finland, which is leading the creation of a diverse network of "Culture Houses" that are meeting the crises of mental health and social isolation among young people and adults of all ages across Europe and beyond.

At the heart of the Culture House movement is a model of mental and emotional well being called "Guided Functional Peer Support" (GFP), which Markus' website describes as "a new approach to mental healthcare that, by enabling those with moderate to severe mental health challenges to focus on skill-sharing and co-creation in the arts to build self-confidence, resilience, and community, severs the often-debilitating link between diagnosis, illness, and identity... An innovative combination of proven theories from occupational therapy, human development, and special education, GFP focuses first on hope and recovery by creating spaces called 'Culture Houses' in which clients, who are mainly transitioning from institutionalized to outpatient care, tutor and learn from each other based on personal strengths and interests. They create together, too, to strengthen a sense of agency and collaboration in a safe space. Trained mental healthcare professionals are present as facilitators and enablers – not therapists. Clients drive decisions such as (what) music is created or plays are written and performed."

Thank you, Markus Raivio, for this conversation and your important work in this area, which everyone working with young adults knows is so urgently needed right now.