SAMK’s new Research Center for Human Functioning focuses on the well-being of employees in Satakunta

The Research Center for Human Functioning is addressing two key challenges for the vitality of Satakunta: the shrinking labor force and the declining functioning of the population. According to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and The Social Insurance Institution, mental health problems, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, smoking and substance abuse, along with cardiovascular diseases, are the main factors that weaken one’s ability to work and function.

The Research Center studies the functioning of the working population in Satakunta and provides recommendations to address labor supply challenges. Maintaining human functioning and strengthening inclusion support the physical, mental, and social capacity of the population to cope with daily activities and integrate into society and working life.

– A prosperous and skilled workforce is a vital pillar of our society's economic and social sustainability. A shrinking workforce will inevitably lead to ever-fiercer competition for a functioning workforce. We need to find new ways of helping people stay and function well in working life, says Henna Kyhä, Research Manager and Head of the Research Center.

Three main areas for research have been selected for the center: Nutrition of the Working-age, Mental Health of the Working-age and Work and Education-based Immigration. The research center will study the impact of nutrition and mental health on working life and human functioning, while research in Work and Education-based Immigration will ensure that international skills remain in Satakunta. The aim is to move towards stronger interdisciplinary research.

– We want to do more innovative, open-minded research. Our latest project will explore whether artificial intelligence can be used to identify factors that predict the onset of mental health disorders from a preventive perspective, says Kyhä.

The research center works closely with the Wellbeing Services County of Satakunta, local businesses and the third sector.

For more information about the research center and its ongoing projects, visit: ihmisentoimintakyky.fi. For further information, please contact the Research Manager of the Research Center for Human Functioning:

Henna Kyhä
Research Manager, Head of Research Center for Human Functioning
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences
+358 44 710 3134 | henna.t.kyha@samk.fi