In terms of the number of respondents, Survey on Well-Being among Foreign Born Population (FinMonik) is so far the most extensive survey carried out among the population with foreign background in Finland. It comprises a wide range of self-reported data, including information on the respondent’s health, well-being and access to care, which can be widely utilized in planning and assessing integration, health and welfare policies. A mixed-method approach (an electronic questionnaire, a paper questionnaire and phone interviews) was used in collecting the data which consists of responses by 6836 respondents aged 18–64 years. All response types included, the response rate was 53.1% (n = 6836). This study describes in detail the methods used in the FinMonik survey. In addition, we describe the demographics of the respondents partaking in each response format. The aim of the study is to promote the development of mixed-method survey as a way of collecting reliable data that can be used to enhance foreign-born people’s health, well-being and access to health care. The survey responses will be used as a baseline in observing the respondents’ well-being through the register-based data available in several national registers on health, medicine use and access to care as well as the data collected in the study Impact of Coronavirus Epidemic on Well-Being among Foreign Born Population Study (MigCOVID). Furthermore, the FinMonik study protocol will be repeated every four years.

Background: Unjust experiences are relatively common among people with foreign background (PFB) in Finland. Despite universal access to public health care, previous studies have shown inequities in the unmet need for medical care between immigrants and the general population. This study examines the association between unjust treatment in healthcare settings and unmet need for general practitioner (GP) services among PFB. Method: The data for this study were drawn from Survey on work and well-being among people of foreign origin (UTH) (n = 4977, response rate 66%). The respondent characteristics were weighted and summarized, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the adjusted odds ratios (OR) of association between perceived unjust treatment and unmet need for GP services. The analyses were conducted in a four-step process where the first model tested the association between unjust treatment in health care settings and unmet need for GP services, second model adjusted this association by sociodemographic factors, third model was further adjusted by migration related factors, and the fourth model adjusted the previous models even further by health related factors.Results: The results of multivariate regression showed that PFB reporting unjust treatment were also significantly more likely to report an unmet need for GP services. The difference remained significant even after controlling for other tested factors (OR=8.68, 95% CI 6.09-12.36, p<.001). In addition to perceived unjust treatment, only younger age, lower self-rated health and existing long-term illness were significantly associated with unmet need for medical care in the final, fully adjusted model.Conclusions: Thus, perceived unjust treatment in health care settings is significantly associated with unmet need for general practitioner services. Ensuring cultural competence throughout the entire organizational structures creates an environment to promote equal treatment for all clients. The overall costs can be reduced effectively by giving the best possible treatment for all health care users.

Asylum seekers face higher mental health risks than quota and other refugee groups. In Finland, reception centres organise health and social services for asylum seekers. This study examines how asylum seekers make sense of mental health and mental health support to help improve the services. This qualitative study involved ten semi‐structured interviews. Asylum seekers were interviewed in person in four reception centres across Finland between November 2023 and March 2024. Interviews focused on mental health, mental health support, and reception centre environment. Thematic analysis was applied to the transcribed interviews. Asylum seekers viewed mental health through a holistic mind–body connection. Uncertainty about past, present, and future negatively impacted their mental health. Trust in two‐way conversational support from professionals was crucial. Asylum seekers employed self‐supportive strategies defined by collectivistic viewpoints. Meaningful activities served as distractions, though accessibility was influenced by reception centre locations. Reception centre professionals can support asylum seekers by providing personalised assistance and information about activities tailored to individual needs. Open communication, built on honest, consistent, and equal treatment, is essential. Educating professionals about asylum seekers' perceptions of mental health helps build cultural sensitivity and awareness. Providing psychoeducation to asylum seekers can foster a shared understanding and enhance the availability and effectiveness of mental health support.