The Therapies to the Forefront operating model will soon be available as part of occupational health services throughout Terveystalo
Terveystalo is one of the first operators to utilize the Therapies at the Forefront operating model in occupational health care, starting in the summer of 2025. Our experiences with the model as part of occupational health have been very positive, and our goal is to offer all our organizational customers the opportunity to use the model during 2026. The model is part of the national mental health strategy and aims to ensure timely and effective support for mental health challenges in collaboration with welfare services.
The Therapies to the Forefront model offers clear and structured methods for identifying mental health challenges, assessing the need for treatment, and selecting forms of support.
How can I implement the model in my own organization?
From the employer's perspective The implementation of the Therapies to the Forefront model begins with a discussion with your occupational health team, reviewing the organization's current mental health support services and their overall effectiveness. At the same time, you will discuss how the operating model can be integrated into existing practices and describe the mental health service pathway together, so that employees can always be directed to the most appropriate service at the right time. Occupational health nurses play a key role in this, as they can also refer clients to wellness services if necessary.
Once a common understanding has been reached, the model can be implemented relatively quickly. Employees can be referred for care needs assessment, guided self-care, or brief interventions without long delays. The operating model supports early intervention and prevents symptoms from becoming prolonged.
Occupational health care keeps everything together
Occupational health care has special expertise in workplaces, job descriptions, and opportunities for modifying work — things that may not be familiar to care providers elsewhere. Even if treatment is provided in the welfare sector, occupational health care retains responsibility for monitoring the employee's work ability and taking into account issues related to working life. Occupational health care ensures that treatment and the realities of working life go hand in hand and that the employee is not left alone between different actors.
What is the Occupational Health Therapies to the Forefront operating model?
The key tools of the operating model are:
- Therapy navigator and initial assessment, which help determine the level of support needed.
- Guided self-care programs that offer quick, low-threshold support.
The model is suitable for organizations that want to expand their mental well-being support. In particular, the model adds value in situations where the need for mental health support is growing and there is a desire to strengthen early support and low-threshold treatment.
