Photo: From the film Tell Everyone / Helsinki-filmi
Please note: this event and its registration form are in Finnish.
The public event organised on International Women’s Day invites participants to explore women’s mental health from a historical perspective to present-day forms of care. The event opens a discussion on how women’s bodies and minds have been understood at different times – and how far we have come.
At the beginning of the event, we will see the trailer of Tell Everyone, a film that had its world premiere in Gothenburg. The film’s producer guides us to the island of Seili in the late 19th century, where the story is set. The film’s main character, Amanda Aaltonen, is labelled “menstrual mad” simply because she suffers from severe menstrual pain. At the women’s mental hospital on Seili, she finds a sense of community among other women who have been institutionalised for various reasons – often misunderstood and deprived of a voice.
From the days of Seili to today’s Kompass Hospital, a long journey has been made. Today, women’s bodies and minds are studied more extensively and holistically than before. The impact of hormones on women’s wellbeing at different stages of life is increasingly recognised; menstrual pain is no longer dismissed as imaginary or a sign of madness, and mental health challenges are not seen as weakness. There is also a growing understanding that women’s bodies and minds respond differently to physical and psychological trauma than men’s – and that this must be reflected in care.
In honour of International Women’s Day, we will delve into the landscapes of mental health from the perspectives of history, medicine and contemporary treatments. At the end of the event, there will be an opportunity to engage in discussion with experts and continue this important dialogue.
The event language is Finnish.
Date: Sun. 8th March 2026 at 12.00–14.30
Venue: Turku City Library
Address: Linnankatu 2-4, 20100 Turku
Lecture Hall: Studio
Parking: Turun toriparkki, Linnankatu, Turku
Program
12.00 Opening remarks, Business Turku Women’s Health Hub Finland
Minna Arve, CEO, Business Turku
Tell Everyone – Making Women’s Voices Heard
Teea Hyytiä, CEO, Aurora Studios & Helsinki Filmi
The Female Mind in the History of Medicine
Ulla Ahlmén-Laiho, MD, Specialist Physician, BA Philosophy, Special Competence in Medical Education, University of Turku
Hormones and the Nervous System – Psychological Symptoms in Women and Girls and Modern Treatment Approaches
Marika Östman, Specialist in Adult and Adolescent Psychiatry, Neuropsychiatrist, Psychotherapist, Gynaecologist, Neuronovum
Women’s Burnout and Self-Care, the Impact of Neurodiversity
Samuli Shintami, Psychologist, Therapist
Mehiläinen, Neuronovum, PsykologiSamuli
Wellbeing Starts from Within – The Role of Emotions and Needs
Maippi Huuskonen, Psychotherapist, Body-Oriented Therapy, Terveystalo, Neuronovum
14:00 Open discussion and networking
14:30 End of event
Please register by Wed. 4th March 2026
Speakers
Teea Hyytiä
Teea is a producer with over 30 years of experience in the field. Her passion is to address socially silenced and taboo topics through the films she produces.
The film Tell Everyone (Kerro Kaikille) will premiere in Finland in autumn 2026. The screenplay was written by Katja Kallio, a native of Turku, and the film is directed by Alli Haapasalo.
Ulla Ahlmén-Laiho
Ulla is a specialist in anesthesiology and intensive care medicine. In her doctoral dissertation, she examined physicians’ relationship with the media in Finland. She teaches the history of medicine to medical students at four Finnish universities and is currently completing a master’s degree in cultural history.
In 2021, the Turku Medical Students’ Association selected Ulla as Teacher of the Year, and she has completed the Special Competence in Medical Education. Her particular interests include the history of epidemics and gender history.
Marika Östman
Marika is a psychiatrist specializing in neurodiversity and is well known from social media. She treats both adolescents and adults. She is also a gynecologist, and women’s health is a particularly important topic in her work.
Samuli Shintami
Samuli is known on social media as Psychologist Samuli. He has deep expertise in work-related stress and recovery, as well as ADHD and autism, including the everyday and work-life challenges associated with these conditions.
Maippi Huuskonen
Maippi is an experienced psychotherapist specializing in body-based approaches, helping to treat the mind through the body. In her work, she also supports couples.
Inquiries
Megumi Hayashi
megumi.hayashi@businessturku.fi
The event is organized by Business Turku & Women’s Health Hub Finland.