Ulkokehän Miehet (Men of the Outer Circle) offers support for young adult men, who are struggling with experiences of social isolation, exclusion, and loneliness. The project strengthens the participants’ general wellbeing and ability to function in their day-to-day lives and reduces their experiences of loneliness by offering individual counseling and organizing peer support groups.
You are welcome to the service, if you are concerned about your ability to manage your daily life, feelings of social isolation and loneliness, the time you spend online, or if you feel disappointed in or frustrated with society in general. The service may prove useful for men, who feel that they are stuck in life and who are willing to think about their future.
The project is also aimed at young men who are part of the so called incel communities. You can read more about how we approach the incel phenomenon here.
Forms of support
The service organizes individual counseling and peer group meetings. You can attend meetings in person at the Miessakit offices in Helsinki and Turku, or remotely by phone or via Teams nationwide.
If you’re interested in participating, you will find the contact information for the project employees below.
Individual counseling
Men who come in for counseling are given a chance to be heard. Individual counseling focuses on understanding the participants’ individual and diverse backgrounds and experiences. It is crucial to delve deep into how they view their lives and the challenges they face. The goal is to support participants in analyzing their experiences and figuring out their options for the future. With the help of our counselors, men can start to take steps in a new direction, create more structure and find more opportunities for social interaction in their daily lives.
Guided peer support groups
In professionally guided peer support groups, men get a chance to share their experiences with other men who are facing similar challenges in life. Attending the group allows them to experience the positive effects of peer support and gain perspective on their own lives. Participating in group meetings helps men tackle the challenges they face and find constructive solutions to them. Each participant’s experiences are discussed confidentially and in equal regard.
Sharing information and expertise
The materials created and experiences gathered during the project will be compiled into a handbook highlighting the best practices on how to help men affected by social isolation, exclusion, and loneliness. The project also organizes training for professionals in the social and healthcare fields who encounter men who are facing these issues. Moreover, the project gathers information and raises awareness of men’s experiences and facilitates constructive discussion about the phenomenon.
Ulkokehän Miehet is a three-year project (2024–2026) and part of the Näkymättömät (“Invisible Ones”) program organized by STEA (Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health Organisations). The project is funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
Contact
044 751 1310 | ulkokehan.miehet(at)miessakit.fi
Helsinki
Ismo Pitkänen
Project coordinator
044 750 7050
ismo.pitkanen(at)miessakit.fi
Turku
Juho Hietarinta
Project employee
044 756 6706
juho.hietarinta(at)miessakit.fi
