This program is live captioned by Red Bee Media.
Sorry, Disneyland, this is the happiest place on earth.
For the fourth year running, and in spite of COVID,
Finland has been crowned number one on the UN's Happiness Index Report.
It seems kind of improbable.
So has Finland, actually found the key to lasting happiness?
Or is the whole idea a steaming pile of (HISSING)?
(LAUGHS)
It's spring-time in Helsinki!
8am, partly cloudy and just 10 degrees.
Prime Finnish swimming conditions.
A
A freezing
A freezing plunge
A freezing plunge one
A freezing plunge one over
A freezing plunge one over two
famous
A freezing plunge one over two famous finish
A freezing plunge one over two famous finish pastimes.
A freezing plunge one over two famous finish pastimes. The
A freezing plunge one over two famous finish pastimes. The date
A freezing plunge one over two famous finish pastimes. The date on
your
famous finish pastimes. The date on your breathing
famous finish pastimes. The date on your breathing oil
famous finish pastimes. The date on your breathing oil panic
famous finish pastimes. The date on your breathing oil panic because
famous finish pastimes. The date on your breathing oil panic because of
the
your breathing oil panic because of the cold
your breathing oil panic because of the cold water.
your breathing oil panic because of the cold water. The
your breathing oil panic because of the cold water. The other
your breathing oil panic because of the cold water. The other part
your breathing oil panic because of the cold water. The other part is
the
the cold water. The other part is the sauna.
the cold water. The other part is the sauna. I
the cold water. The other part is the sauna. I admitted
the cold water. The other part is the sauna. I admitted this
the cold water. The other part is the sauna. I admitted this warm
place,
the sauna. I admitted this warm place, it's
the sauna. I admitted this warm place, it's very
the sauna. I admitted this warm place, it's very important
the sauna. I admitted this warm place, it's very important during
the
place, it's very important during the cold
place, it's very important during the cold winters.
place, it's very important during the cold winters. It's
place, it's very important during the cold winters. It's like
place, it's very important during the cold winters. It's like a
spiritual
the cold winters. It's like a spiritual experience,
the cold winters. It's like a spiritual experience, innocence.
There
spiritual experience, innocence. There are
spiritual experience, innocence. There are 5.5
spiritual experience, innocence. There are 5.5 million
spiritual experience, innocence. There are 5.5 million people
spiritual experience, innocence. There are 5.5 million people and
spiritual experience, innocence. There are 5.5 million people and I
heard
There are 5.5 million people and I heard there
There are 5.5 million people and I heard there almost
There are 5.5 million people and I heard there almost 3
There are 5.5 million people and I heard there almost 3 million
There are 5.5 million people and I heard there almost 3 million saunas,
which
heard there almost 3 million saunas, which means
heard there almost 3 million saunas, which means it's
heard there almost 3 million saunas, which means it's one
heard there almost 3 million saunas, which means it's one sauna
heard there almost 3 million saunas, which means it's one sauna for
heard there almost 3 million saunas, which means it's one sauna for every
other
which means it's one sauna for every other finish
which means it's one sauna for every other finish citizen
which means it's one sauna for every other finish citizen from
which means it's one sauna for every other finish citizen from all
which means it's one sauna for every other finish citizen from all age
groups.
other finish citizen from all age groups. Frank
other finish citizen from all age groups. Frank is
other finish citizen from all age groups. Frank is a
other finish citizen from all age groups. Frank is a happy
other finish citizen from all age groups. Frank is a happy guy.
other finish citizen from all age groups. Frank is a happy guy. A
philosophy
groups. Frank is a happy guy. A philosophy professor,
groups. Frank is a happy guy. A philosophy professor, author
groups. Frank is a happy guy. A philosophy professor, author and
native
philosophy professor, author and native Finn.
philosophy professor, author and native Finn. Also
philosophy professor, author and native Finn. Also a
philosophy professor, author and native Finn. Also a leading
philosophy professor, author and native Finn. Also a leading thinker
on
native Finn. Also a leading thinker on happiness.
native Finn. Also a leading thinker on happiness. If
native Finn. Also a leading thinker on happiness. If I
native Finn. Also a leading thinker on happiness. If I think
native Finn. Also a leading thinker on happiness. If I think about
native Finn. Also a leading thinker on happiness. If I think about my
own
on happiness. If I think about my own happiness,
on happiness. If I think about my own happiness, my
on happiness. If I think about my own happiness, my answer
on happiness. If I think about my own happiness, my answer is
on happiness. If I think about my own happiness, my answer is boring
because
own happiness, my answer is boring because the
own happiness, my answer is boring because the two
own happiness, my answer is boring because the two key
own happiness, my answer is boring because the two key factors
own happiness, my answer is boring because the two key factors are
happiness
because the two key factors are happiness and
because the two key factors are happiness and work.
because the two key factors are happiness and work. My
because the two key factors are happiness and work. My life
because the two key factors are happiness and work. My life becomes
meaningful
happiness and work. My life becomes meaningful when
happiness and work. My life becomes meaningful when I
happiness and work. My life becomes meaningful when I meaningful
happiness and work. My life becomes meaningful when I meaningful with
other
meaningful when I meaningful with other people.
Though he studies happiness, when Finland first topped the charts
in 2018, it was a bit of a shock.
So the Finnish people, the reaction was kind
of people and surprised and almost angry because they felt
that this cannot be true, because I guess
the Finnish self-image is basically that we're just kind
of melancholic people.
We listen to sad music, and hard rock and this
So happiness was not part of the Finnish self-image.
The UN World Happiness Report ranks 138 countries according
to their citizen's levels of happiness.
Since its inception, Nordic nations have dominated
the top 10.
When Finland went to number one, Frank wanted to know
what makes his people so happy.
With a few colleagues, we started to go through the research trying
to find answers.
Nordic countries tend to be countries where there's
unemployment benefits, pensions, and other benefits are quite
on a quite good level.
But what makes Finland stand out, is a unique, Finnish concept called
I guess Sisu could be defined as this perseverance in face
of extreme obstacles.
The concept of sisu comes from quite far back.
And I guess it's really the very harsh natural conditions of Finland.
So people are kind of accepting the bad thing faster
and through that being able to then cope better with it.
That kind of explains the dips in the ocean.
But According Frank, a cultural focus on perseverance,
has reshaped the way Finns view happiness.
Finnish people are not too obsessed with happiness.
People don't shoot for the stars.
They are usually quite happy with quite kind of ordinary dreams
in their life.
So
So that
So that is
So that is sisu
So that is sisu in
So that is sisu in action.
So how does Australia compare in terms of happiness?
Well, in the 2021 report, Australia came in 11th.
Still happy but a long way from the top.
It begs the question, can Australia learn from Finland
and be happier?
Maybe we can go over there in the forest
across the road.
That's exactly what this expat Aussie Mum is finding out.
I wonder what we're going to find today?
For Finnish people the idea of happiness is very different
to an Australian's idea of happiness.
Oh,
Oh, my
Oh, my goodness!
Wow, it looks like someone has started to build a cubby house!
For Finnish people, happiness might mean more of just
a satisfaction with life.
What's that?
It looks like a mushroom.
That's weird.
Originally from Sydney, Melissa Giorgio moved to Finland 11
years ago with her Finnish husband.
Are you making a sling shot?
7-year-old Milo was born a few years later and the family
settled in Helsinki's outer suburbs.
Initially, the plan was to spend two years away from Oz,
but then Melissa fell for Finland.
One of my favourite things about living here is,
whether you're in a residential area
or in the middle of the city, it's easy to access nature.
I hope summer comes quickly.
The other thing I really enjoy is Finnish people seem to be quite
satisfied with the way things are, and they don't seem
to want more constantly.
OK, do you think you've had enough?
Yeah, you're not hungry anymore?
Also, nobody seems to care as much about status.
There's not as much hierarchy here than there
is in, say, Australia.
So right now, we're driving through a typical neighbourhood
of greater Helsinki.
And, it pretty much looks like any other neighbourhood
in Finland, in my mind.
It's just not obvious which suburbs are the so-called "well to do"
and which suburbs are not so well to do.
The flaunting of status and wealth is considered quite gauche
in Finnish culture.
One of the first things I noticed about being here was that you're not
going to a dinner party or a BBQ and talking about real estate.
Nobody's asking about where you live, which suburb you live,
where your kid is going to school. It was quite refreshing, actually.
Oh, double!
One,
One, two,
One, two, three,
One, two, three, four,
One, two, three, four, five,
One, two, three, four, five, six...
For Melissa, less status anxiety was a welcome relief,
but for this young mum, there was a bigger incentive to stay.
The whole country takes care of the raising of children
and the system is set up so well.
So, from birthing my son to bringing him up at home,
and then sending him to day care
and then onto school,
every aspect of that felt really well supported.
22!
22! I'll
22! I'll give
22! I'll give you
22! I'll give you 25.
I have so much money!
I
I have
I have too
I have too much
I have too much as
I have too much as well!
(LAUGHS)
Finland provides all mothers to be with preand post-natal healthcare,
at no charge.
Alright, zip yourself up.
Finns also receive some of Europe's highest parental leave benefits,
and childcare costs are mostly paid by government.
You ready?
But for Melissa, a former teacher, the cherry on top is Milo having
to the Finnish school system.
Finland's schools have sat at the top of Europe's rankings
for more than a decade.
Primary, high school, and university are free,
mostly government-run, and for young kids, the environment
very different than in Aussie classrooms.
Tiina teaches grade two.
As an educator, she's part of an elite group.
The highly qualified, and highly paid teachers
are the backbone of a system that's built on equality.
In Finland, nearly all costs associated with school are covered
by the government, something Principal Huusko is proud of.
Part of that philosophy is letting kids be kids.
Primary students get a 15-minute play break every hour.
So does the principal.
The school day is also one of the shortest in the world.
The younger grades spend just 20 hours a week at school,
half the time Australian kids do.
Well done!
Less time at school means more time for play.
And not just for the kids.
Makke was a goalie, so you can see the dreams being passed on.
Work-life balance here is really nice.
In Finland, it's just a regular working day from 8:00am to 4:00pm
is over, that's it.
Stop? I can't stop.
And everybody appreciates that and just allows people to go home,
be with their families, nobody's expected to be working
at all hours of the night.
It's old fashioned but in a really nice way.
Melissa says she's happier than ever, but that doesn't mean
life is always easy.
But has Finnish culture helped her coping skills?
My expectations of life and of what happiness is have
definitely changed since moving to Finland.
They have this concept of sisu.
And it's been really interesting to me to watch Finnish people embody
that and then learn from Finnish people to really work
on my own sisu.
Oh, look, it's starting to snow.
Great Finnish, spring weather.
Because it's not always easy here.
It's difficult at times to come to grips with this weather,
for instance, and so sisu has really helped me.
And I've got more of that sense of satisfaction rather
than that need to chase happiness
all the time.
It's easy to imagine couples like Melissa and Makke wanting
to grow old here.
And the reality is, ageing in Finland is pretty sweet.
I eat ice-cream every morning because when I was a child,
we have to eat our oat porridge every morning.
I decided when live by my own I will eat ice-cream every morning.
And, uh, this habit has last now for 40 years.
66-year-old Lena believes Finland is a great place to get old.
Finland is quite an equal country.
And as old people, we are quite equal with younger generation
here in Finland.
And we don't have to be ashamed of ourselves.
For Lena, the freedom to be herself is important
because she isn't your ordinary retiree.
Skating is freedom.
When I am skating,
I am just doing what I want to do, and skating has
increased my creativity.
She
She bought
She bought her
She bought her first
She bought her first skateboard
She bought her first skateboard at
She bought her first skateboard at a
63
She bought her first skateboard at a 63 and
She bought her first skateboard at a 63 and has
She bought her first skateboard at a 63 and has been
She bought her first skateboard at a 63 and has been a
She bought her first skateboard at a 63 and has been a regular
She bought her first skateboard at a 63 and has been a regular at
Helsinki's
63 and has been a regular at Helsinki's skate
63 and has been a regular at Helsinki's skate parks
63 and has been a regular at Helsinki's skate parks ever
63 and has been a regular at Helsinki's skate parks ever since.
What has surprised me that when I began came to skate park,
let's say four years ago, those kids they didn't laugh at me.
They just look at me.
Lena now runs skate classes for both young and old.
Woohoo!
She believes that mixing it with skaters not
only improves her Sisu, but shows off another
of Finland's best traits.
Lena is more than happy to grow old in Finland,
but the cost of happiness is worrying the nation's leaders.
Finland has one of Europe's most rapidly ageing populations.
By 2070 it's estimated that one in three Finns will be over 65.
With its generous pension scheme, and life expectancy sitting at 82,
looking after the elderly is about to be a big problem.
We have some base level problems here in Finland and one of them
is that we are getting old.
Quite
Quite fast
Quite fast here
Quite fast here in
Quite fast here in Finland.
For government MP Annika Saariko,
the elderly are only one part of the ageing crisis.
Also the birth rate is very low nowadays.
We need more children here in Finland.
Rapid urbanisation and increasing education levels are thought
caused births to drop by 23% in the last decade.
The government was working on plans to address the coming crisis
but then the pandemic came.
Who could even imagine that how much our life is going to change
when this pandemic came.
I'm very grateful to the Finns because the restrictions
which hasn't been easy to live with them, they decided to live
in a good way and restrictions have been working.
Finns, they are trusting to
the government.
It's a great asset.
It
It has
It has helped
It has helped us
It has helped us a
It has helped us a lot
It has helped us a lot while
It has helped us a lot while we
It has helped us a lot while we have
had
It has helped us a lot while we have had this
It has helped us a lot while we have had this global
It has helped us a lot while we have had this global crisis.
A recent survey revealed that 9 in 10 Finns fully
supported the government's COVID efforts.
Finland trusts its government more than most OECD countries.
According to researchers, that has a big impact on well-being.
Trust has been shown to be one of the factors that explains
national happiness levels.
Here, government institutions are well functioning
and they are able to deliver what they are promising to deliver.
Which means that people have this feeling that the government
is taking care of them and they're not so afraid
is taking care of them and they're not so afraid of barriers
of barriers and downturns.
With COVID coming under control,
where will the trusted government go from here?
The ageing is one of the biggest problems that we have
and it is ours to solve together. We are welfare society.
It is important that every citizen thinks that "my life important
"and the politicians are also, they want to take care of me
"so that they can trust the future."
But in the happiest country on Earth, there are a growing number
of Finns the government isn't taking care of.
As dusk falls on Helsinki, two men are trying to find them.
According to the UN's World Happiness Report,
Finland has been the happiest country on Earth, four years
running.
But it's no utopia, and tonight these men are searching for Finn's
who've fallen through the cracks.
Vesa and Tumos work with No Fixed Abode,
a charity providing first-aid, food and support to those sleeping
rough in Helsinki.
Locals have reported seeing a group of young people sleeping in this
park in below freezing conditions.
In a country where winter temperatures drop below minus 20,
homelessness can be deadly.
There are signs people have stayed here, but they've moved on.
Vesa and Tumos will spend the rest of the night looking
for other rough sleepers.
On an average evening, they'll find dozens across Helsinki
needing emergency help.
Despite Finland's famed welfare system, in the last decade,
homelessness has been rising in one key group -
young people under 30.
Robin is a youth leader at Nuoli House, a shelter for under
30s.
The shelter is run on private donations and receives state aid.
Even before COVID, Nuoli was under increasing stress.
Substance abuse disorders affect 4% of the Finnish population nearly
double the rate of the rest of the EU.
Addiction is a key factor in youth homelessness and affects
many of Nuoli's residents who declined to be film.
At No Fixed Abode's nearby drop-in centre, 34-year-old former resident
Jussi was happy to share his story.
After Jussi aged out of the youth Shelter,
this place saved his life.
But over the last decade, government spending
on emergency shelters and substance abuse programmes has been slashed.
Funding priority has gone to the Accommodation First Initiative
- a scheme to to provide social housing units to all vulnerable
Finns by 2032.
But with youth homelessness rising, Finland may need to re-finance
emergency shelters and other social support programs.
It's important to realise that we can't lose anybody.
They need education, they need workplaces,
and they need hope, and that's why we want to put
more effort to the mental health services, because we think that
youth, they really need them now.
Until there is substantial change, many homeless must rely
on non-government services and sisu to help them survive.
In spite of issues like homelessness, Finland remains
at the top of the world happiness chart.
But is being number one actually hurting Finland?
While expat-mum Melissa visits the inlaws,
there's growing concern that the expectation to be happy
is making people anxious.
Sometimes it's really difficult because my culture is to complain,
and I guess not so much complain but say things
like they are, and I find that Finnish people don't tend
to complain so much, or rock the boat, or upset
the status quo.
So, that was really difficult at times for me because I felt
like I was being ungrateful and not fitting in.
Some mental health advocates feel that the happiness report pressures
unhappy citizens to hide their distress,
preventing many from seeking professional help.
But others argue, Finns hiding their feelings
is nothing new.
So in Finland there's this saying, "The one who has happiness should
"hide it."
That's part of the Finnish culture that people don't
want to stick out and don't want to display their wealth
or their happiness to other people.
in this modern world
where we are all comparing each other through social media,
the less you display your happiest moments, it's better for the social
comparison and in that sense might be also good for people's happiness
in the long run.
Whether it's good or bad for Finland to be the world's happiest country,
the rest of us can look to Finns for clues on how to live
a more satisyfing life.
This society, we have built it for everybody.
And if somebody feels that this is not for me,
that's our biggest problem.
We can learn from the uniquely Finish concept of sisu,
which celebrates resilience and grit.
It's not about jumping with joy, or smiling and laughing,
but it's more about,
you think that, "Well, after all, everything is quite good."
And we can strive to be more accepting and be stoked to be alive.
This is the final episode of Dateline for this year but we'll
be back in 2023 with more daring stories from around the world.
In the meantime, you can catch up on all our episodes at SBS
On Demand.