What Mielle does

Mielle ry is a Finnish non-profit association founded in 1987 and headquartered in Vaasa, providing mental health and social rehabilitation services across the Ostrobothnia region. The organization operates five physical service units in Vaasa and Laihia: Työpaja Komppis (workshop for working-age adults aged 18-65), Työpaja Spurtti (start-up training workshop for youth under 29), Tiimitupa (small-group day activities of 10-12 persons), Kieppi (Laihia day activities), and Mahis (open-access community meeting place offering the MielenTuki walk-in counseling service). Service delivery is grounded in two proprietary methodologies: the Recovery-oriented (toipumisorientaatio) social rehabilitation framework emphasizing customer strengths and participatory planning, and Green Care nature-based interventions including gardening, animal-assisted activities, and outdoor programs. Trilingual delivery (Finnish, Swedish, English) and digital content via the Toipumismatkalla recovery journey platform extend reach.

The business model is grant-funded rather than commercial. Primary revenue streams are multi-year and annual grants from STEA (185,000 EUR for Mahis operations), Ostrobothnia Welfare Area (44,000 EUR combined), Vaasa City (82,000 EUR combined), and the Permit and Supervision Authority (42,000 EUR for Spurtti), supplemented by project-specific awards from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (190,000 EUR for Mielentukea Mahikselta, 2025-2027), Ragnar Ekberg Foundation, Vaasa Aktia Foundation, and others. Total identified annual grant flow exceeds 350,000 EUR with additional project funding on top. All services are provided free of charge to end users; association membership costs 10 EUR per year. In December 2024, the organization divested its housing services business unit to Esperi Care, retaining community-based rehabilitation, workshops, and open-access services. Annual reach is approximately 500 participants across more than 20,000 individual service encounters.

Customer segments span three groups: mental health rehabilitation clients (working-age adults, primary), youth outside education and employment under 29 (primary), and the general public accessing Mahis and MielenTuki (primary, no referral required). A secondary segment comprises trained experience experts (kokemusasiantuntijat) who deliver peer support and training. Distribution is primarily in-person at the five Vaasa and Laihia locations, supplemented by self-serve digital booking via Vello, Microsoft Teams for remote lectures, and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube).

Name

Mielle

Legal name

Mielle ry

Website

https://miellery.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mielle ry is a Finnish non-profit association founded in 1987 that delivers social rehabilitation, workshop programs, and open-access community mental health services to adults, youth, and the general public across Vaasa and Laihia in the Ostrobothnia region, funded primarily by government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vaasa

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Subsidies: Primary funding source from government organizations including STEA (Social and Health Organizations' Subsidy Centre), Ostrobothnia Welfare Area, Vaasa City, and regulatory permits. Annual grants specified: STEA 185,000 EUR for Mahis operations, Vaasa City 45,000 EUR for Mahis, 36,000 EUR for youth workshop operations, Ostrobothnia Welfare Area 20,000 EUR for Mahis, 20,000 EUR for Spurtti Olkkari operations, 4,000 EUR for nature-based activities. Additional grants from permit and supervision authority (42,000 EUR for Spurtti), and various private foundations.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership fee of 10 EUR per individual member. Members receive benefits from the Finnish Central Association for Mental Health (MTKL). Association has approximately 500 participants annually across services with over 20,000 individual encounters.
3. Project Funding: Time-limited project grants from various sources including Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö) for Mielentukea Mahikselta project (190,000 EUR approved), Aktion Österbotten and Keskitie Foundation for LuontoMieli project (2023-2024), Ragnar Ekberg Foundation for LuontoLataamo project (20,000 EUR), Vaasa Aktia Foundation (5,000 EUR), Erkki Poikonen Foundation (2,000 EUR), Vaasa Cooperative Bank (1,500 EUR), Viktor Ollqvist Foundation (1,350 EUR).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mielle ry is a Finnish non-profit association founded in 1987 that delivers social rehabilitation, low-threshold workshop activities, open-access community mental health services, and counseling in the Ostrobothnia region, primarily around Vaasa. Its offerings span structured social rehabilitation for working-age mental health clients, youth workshops, and drop-in community support across several named units (Komppis, Spurtti, Tiimitupa, Kieppi, Mahis).

Product overview

Mielle ry is a non-profit mental health services provider offering a portfolio of interconnected social rehabilitation and mental wellbeing services. The core offerings include: social rehabilitation programs (Sosiaalinen kuntoutus), workshop activities for adults (Työpaja Komppis) and youth (Työpaja Spurtti), day activity services (Tiimitupa, Kieppi), and an open meeting place (Mahis). Supporting services include MielenTuki-vastaanotto for anonymous walk-in counseling, peer expert coordination (Kokemusasiantuntijat), and educational content (Toipumismatkalla). Services are delivered primarily in-person across multiple locations in Vaasa and Laihia, Finland, with some programs like Urban Campfire targeting specific demographics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mahis: Hyvän mielen kohtaamispaikka (Good Mood Meeting Place) - a low-threshold community space open to everyone for mental well-being activities.
• Työpaja Komppis
• Työpaja Spurtti
• Tiimitupa
• Kieppi
• MielenTuki-vastaanotto

Products and services

• Työpaja Komppis (Social Rehabilitation Workshop)
• Työpaja Spurtti (Youth Social Rehabilitation Workshop)
• Tiimitupa (Low-Threshold Community Space)
• Kieppi (Mental Health Counseling and Cognitive Rehabilitation)
• Mahis (Youth Workshop / Youth Outreach)
• Mielle Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of surveyed workshop participants reported experiencing social strengthening during their workshop period (Sovari 2022 survey)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Pohjanmaan hyvinvointialue (Ostrobothnia Welfare Area)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey regional government partner for mental health services. Provides funding for Mahis community activities (20,000 EUR), Spurtti Olkkari operations (20,000 EUR), and nature-based activities (4,000 EUR). Main partner for social rehabilitation service provision in the region.
• Vaasan kaupunki (City of Vaasa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey municipal partner providing operational funding: 45,000 EUR for Mahis operations, 36,000 EUR for youth workshop activities, 1,000 EUR ecological bonus for Mahis urban garden implementation. Active collaboration in community mental health initiatives.
• STEA (Sosiaali- ja terveysjärjestöjen avustuskeskus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational government subsidy organization providing core funding of 185,000 EUR for Mahis community meeting place operations in 2026. Primary funder of organization's open-access community mental health activities.
• Vaasan yliopisto (University of Vaasa)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for LuontoMieli project (2023-2024) and general collaboration. Contributed to nature-based mental health research and Green Care methodology development.
• Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMKsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in LuontoMieli project (2023-2024) coordinated by University of Vaasa. Collaboration on Green Care methodology research and implementation in Ostrobothnia region.
• FinFami Pohjanmaa rysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional mental health family association partner. Co-organizes open lecture series with Mielle, providing public education on mental health topics.
• Suomen sosiaalipsykiatristen yhdistysten keskusliitto ry (SSYK)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association providing Recovery orientation principles and framework. Mielle ry is committed to SSYK's recovery orientation principles.
• Mielenterveyden keskusliitto MTKL rysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational mental health association providing membership benefits and network. Mielle ry is a member association. Membership benefits included with 10 EUR annual membership fee.
• Into – etsivä nuorisutyö ja työpajatoiminta rysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization for youth outreach work and workshop activities. Awards quality marks to workshops meeting national quality criteria. Spurtti received two-star quality mark in 2023.
• Kokoa – Koulutetut kokemusasiantuntijat rysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization for trained experience experts. Collaboration through ÄK-hanke (2020-2022) which established experience expert coordination system in Ostrobothnia.
• Hyvinvointiala HALI rysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelfare sector association. Mielle is a member, and follows private social services collective agreement for employment.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mielenterveyden keskusliitto (MTKL): The Finnish Central Association for Mental Health is the national umbrella organization for mental health NGOs, of which Mielle ry is a member. It provides member benefits, advocacy, and network coordination for the same population of mental health service providers and clients.
• FinFami ry: National federation of regional mental health family associations in Finland, co-organizing activities with Mielle in Ostrobothnia. Operates a parallel peer-support and mental health advocacy model targeting families affected by mental health challenges.

Regional players

• Mind (UK): The UK's largest mental health charity provides information, campaigning, and local service delivery. Comparable mission and broad mental health service portfolio, but operates at national scale rather than as a regional NGO.
• Mental Health Foundation (UK): UK charity focused on mental health research, prevention, and public mental wellbeing. Overlaps with Mielle's Recovery Journey content platform and Mahis low-threshold wellbeing approach, though operates at greater national scale.
• Together for Mental Wellbeing: A UK charity delivering community-based mental health social services including supported housing and rehabilitation. Most directly comparable to Mielle's service model of social rehabilitation and community mental health support, though in a different country context.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness, US): The largest US grassroots mental health organization providing advocacy, education, and peer-led support. Comparable peer-support and lived-experience focus, and operates a comparable affiliate structure analogous to Mielle's relationship with national Finnish mental health bodies.

Others

• EHYT ry: Finnish non-profit association promoting mental health and preventing substance abuse. Operates a comparable prevention-focused mission and grant-funded delivery model, though with greater emphasis on substance-related harm reduction.
• SOSTE Suomen sosiaali ja terveys ry: The Finnish Federation for Social Affairs and Health is the umbrella body for Finnish social and health NGOs, of which Mielle is a member. Provides sector-level policy advocacy, training, and network coordination for the broader ecosystem Mielle operates in.
• SOS-Lapsikylä ry (SOS Children's Villages Finland): A Finnish non-profit providing residential and community-based support for vulnerable children and families. Comparable in non-profit governance, grant-funded operating model, and welfare-sector positioning, though focused on child welfare rather than adult mental health.

Broad incumbents

• Folkhälsan: A larger Swedish-speaking Finnish health and welfare non-profit operating research, care, and community programs. While broader in scope than Mielle, it serves overlapping bilingual populations in Finland with a comparable welfare-NGO model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcps7vgVEMv-UyLgS1xpFMw/featured
• Facebookfi-fi.facebook.com/miellery.fi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/miellery
• Instagraminstagram.com/mielle_ry

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mielle