Calm attitude supports psychological resilience when uncertainty causes stress
Keywords:News about Finland's safety and geopolitical developments in our neighboring areas may cause uncertainty and stress, even if they do not affect our daily life directly. Increased worry and alertness, and difficulty to concentrate are normal human reactions to situations where there is not enough information, or the information changes rapidly. Reactions to the surge of information on current topics vary individually.
Meilahden kampusalue
When we face a situation that causes worry and anxiety, or raises more questions than there are clear answers, our minds seek certainty. However, it is not necessary to solve or understand everything immediately, even though we humans have a natural tendency to seek quick, simple, and even black-and-white explanations.
The Security Strategy for Society (2025) lists psychological resilience as one of the vital functions of society and highlights the role of healthcare and social welfare in supporting the population's psychological capacity as part of comprehensive security. The National Mental Health Strategy (2020–2030) also emphasizes mental health as a foundation for functional capacity, inclusion, and daily routines. In addition, it stresses the significance of early support and the management of health care system’s burden in situations of societal change. Based on these strategies, HUS Psychiatry supports the population's psychological resilience with the means of specialized healthcare in a calm, caring and professional manner.
Psychological stress is not an illness
“When external threats emerge, our minds start to anticipate and prepare for them. It strains our mental capacity at varying degrees, and accumulates easily, even if the threat is not actually present in our daily lives,” explains Aissa Bah, administrative chief physician at HUS Psychiatry.
Psychological stress is not necessarily a condition that needs treatment. It is a common, natural reaction to an unusual situation. The individual experience of stress is still real, and it should be taken seriously in public discourse.
Media literacy protects us
Media literacy refers to the skills needed to critically assess the media, such as news, social media, advertisements, and other content, instead of accepting everything as it is presented. Media literacy is a significant protector of mental health. The constant flow of news, social media claims, and algorithm-curated content based on user profiles, previous preferences, and the platforms’ emphasis may increase stress, especially if we are repeatedly exposed to distressing content.
Dr. Bah reminds everyone that we can and should protect our mental wellbeing. You can limit your news feed if you wish. It is not necessary to know everything immediately, or to react to everything at once. We are not meant to bear everything alone either. The authorities and the civic society have roles that complement each other. As a whole, Finnish society and authorities have been built to endure and develop, and they can be trusted.
Building resilience takes time
“Psychological resilience is not a sprint but a marathon,” explains Bah. The central components are sufficient recovery, routines, and meeting the basic needs of overall health; sleep, nutrition, exercise, and social relationships. During prolonged uncertainty, it is important to not wear oneself out with a constant state of alertness. Small, repeated daily routines build and maintain resilience.
When to seek help
If anxiety, fear, or hypervigilance clearly hinder your functional capacity, sleep, or the ability to cope with daily life, it is best to seek help. Often, self-care and talking to a professional suffice. If necessary, you can contact healthcare services to get an assessment for further support.