Together with Pride work offers professional support and peer support groups and advocates for the rights of LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers and people with refugee backgrounds.
Together with Pride supports well-being, strengthens social relationships and offers information on rights and services in Finland. Group activities are aimed for over 18 -year-olds, but individual support is also available to younger clients if needed. All Together with Pride activities are confidential, our staff and volunteers are bound by professional confidentiality: possible visits will not be recorded by any authority. Together with Pride activities are mainly in English, but we try to accommodate needs for translations when possible. Our office doesn’t offer walk in appointments, so please be sure to book a meeting beforehand.
Individual meetings
Group activities
We work from a resource oriented perspective, meaning that we focus on the present and future and strengthen the participants’ abilities and resilience. Group meetings allow encounters with peers and offer information and support on for example sexual diversity and gender pluralism as well as the human rights situationin Finland as well as legislation and events regarding gender identity and sexual orientation. In addition the groups also make art, cook, visit interesting places, play games and watch movies. Participants come for example from the Middle East, Russia and various African countries.
How to join?
If needed the reception centre is responsible for booking a translator for the meeting. In the first meeting we go through your individual situation and need for support and the goals of peer activities. We have the resources to offer up to five individual consultations for each client.
Due to a rise in need we ask you to book appointments first and foremost during
Yasmin’s phone hours on Tuesdays (11-13, tel. +358 45 1337077) or via email yasmin(at)pride.fi.
For professionals
Our support consists of one-on-one meetings as well as peer group activities. Groups can be joined only through individual meetings in which our trained professional gets to know the client and creates a plan of action with the client.
We can provide up to five individual meetings per client. In the meetings topics discussed can be for example basic information on sexuality and gender diversity, experiences of discrimination, safe relationships, sexual abuse, human rights or sexual counseling. Our work is focused on psychosocial support and providing information, we do not offer legal help or help finding accommodation.
Please note that especially individuals in reception centres should book their appointments through reception centre staff. This makes it easier for us to accommodate everyone. We do not have funding to offer translation services, so a translator (usually attending via phone) must be booked by a reception centre staff member. We maintain a list of LGBTQIA+ friendly translators that you can access if needed.
Contact
Please note that membership of the Helsinki Pride community is not required to participate in Together activities or individual meetings. Membership also has no effect on, for example, the asylum application process.
Below you’ll find more information and materials for professionals regarding asylum seekers and refugees in sexual and gender minorities.
Other services
Crisis Helpline in Arabic and English
MIELI Mental Health Finland provides crisis assistance and support in order to prevent mental health problems and suicides. The Crisis Helpline allows you to discuss your thoughts, feelings and situation in life with a crisis worker or a trained volunteer.
The Crisis Helpline offers help in Arabic and English via telephone on 09 2525 0113 and on WhatsApp on +358 40 195 8202. You can call us anonymously and confidentially.
Other services
Situations that require immediate actions from the social authorities are part of the duties of social emergency services.
The crisis emergency support provides emergency crisis support in sudden crisis situations, such as the sudden death of a close relative, violent situations, severe injury/illness or fire.
Acute crisis support is short-term support: there are 1 to 5 customer meetings, crisis support via phone, assessment of further treatment needs and arrangement of further treatment.
Emergency Social Services 24/7 020 696 006
Crisis emergency support 24/7 09 310 44222
FOR HELSINKI RESIDENTS ONLY
Sopu Project
Have you been dating in secret?
Are you worried that you have offended your family’s honour? Would you like to divorce your spouse, but your family does not accept that?
Do you spend time in places where you have been told not to go? Are you afraid of your family’s reaction in case they find out?
Do you dress differently than what your family expects of you? Do you feel like you need to hide things about yourself?
Have people been spreading rumours about you in your community?
Do you feel attracted to the same gender? Are you scared about what will happen if your family finds out?
Do you feel like your own dreams for the future are very different from those of your parents? Is this causing constant arguments within your family?
Secrets can be heavy to carry alone. Come talk with a Sopu-worker. You can contact a Sopu-worker from the number +358 50 470 0490 or via email at sopu@loistosetlementti.fi. We will answer contact requests during office hours.
Home accomodation
Home accommodation is one of the few models that promote two-way integration, which helps to reduce discriminatory attitudes and reinforces diversity and equality amongst other things. Many LGBTIQ+ asylum seekers want to live in home accommodation and there is constant need for new home accommodations. If you are interested in seeking or offering home accommodation, please contact the support association’s Community Mobilization Advisor Olavi Karvonen (o.karvonen@kotimajoitusverkosto.fi, +358 44 2397 049).
Support and information for the undocumented
If you are undocumented and in a gender or sexual minority in need of support, you can contact Laura, our substitute Executive Director at laura@pride.fi or by phone on Tuesdays 15-16 (+358 44 277 3611)
SOS Crisis Centre
We offer crisis counselling in Finnish, Swedish, English and if necessary, through an interpreter in the client’s mother tongue. The counselling is cost free and anonymous if needed.
No referral is needed to book an appointment, your own experience of crisis is enough. Common reasons for the client to seek help from the SOS center:
Difficult situation in life
Difficulties adapting to a new culture
Marital relationship problems and family problems
Suicidal thoughts
Sudden losses
Accidents, violence
Mental health problems
Booking and inquiries
Call: 09 4135 0510
Open on Mon-Thu 9- 12 and 13-15, Fridays 9-12.
Global Clinic
Every person in Finland is entitled to urgent health care. If in need of URGENT care, please contact your local health care centre or hospital emergency care unit. Urgent care is more extensive than acute care given at the hospital emergency care unit. It should also include necessary medication and laboratory investigations. If someone’s life is in danger, always call 112!
The Clinic is run by volunteers who provide health care services. The services are primarily for patients who are not entitled to public health care in Finland regardless of nationality or migration status. We give information about health services in Finland. Services are free of charge, anonymous and in strict confidence. You can call us and ask for advice: +358 44 977 4547. Volunteer nurse answers the phone. You can also get a translator on the phone if needed.
How to join?
Note that if you need an interpreter, you must ask your social worker to book an appointment with our staff.
ILGA
From the link below you will find over 1500 worldwide member organisations. In case you are looking for information about your rights as an LGBTIQA+ person or you are facing persecution, we suggest that you contact the local or the nearest organisation provided by the list.