Meet Lapinlahti people: Eva-Liisa Kajas, Kristina Pappila, Irma Pillai, Marja Halla-Seppälä and Helena Lahtinen

Cheerful chatter echoes through the hallways of Lapinlahden Lähde, when Eeva-Liisa Kajas, Kristina Pappila, Irma “Ippa” Pillai, Marja “Maiju” Halla-Seppälä and Helana Lahtinen meet each other. The women have known each other for around 50 years—ever since they worked together at the Lapinlahti hospital’s child psychiatric ward.

The ward was closed down in 1981, and former employees were invited to a celebratory cruise to Tallinn, after which these women have met each other regularly. They have a lot of good memories from their work at Lapinlahti hospital.

• The ward’s senior physician Anneli Stewen often invited us to her home. She also gave us work counselling and wanted to improve our know-how. She had a group specifically to the nannies, because no one really had experience from a psychiatric ward, and the workers were very young. Anneli was a very important person to us, Maiju reminiscences.
• Because of Anneli and other employees, this formed into a family-like ward. The whole staff was trained all the time and they also did scientific research here, because this was a university hospital, Ippa adds.

The patients at the child psychiatric ward were 5–15 years old and there were 15 spaces for them. Work was done in three shifts. Patients from all over the country came to Lapinlahti by referral. The hospital also had its own school.

Back then episodes of care were long, some even 18 months. The patients were medicated as little as possible, e.g. children that were not able to be contacted otherwise.

• Every child had a named nurse. Working was very functional; the children were taken to swim, on trips, skiing, etc. There was more time for care work than there is now. The work was done with your own persona, but professionally, Ippa tells.
• Care work in Lapinlahti was very modern as early as that, and the unique milieu of the hospital had a huge impact in the wellbeing of the patients. The work was strenuous, but very rewarding, Kristina says.

The women start reminiscing about tricks made by crafty children. Work days were not lacking in speed or dangerous situations.

The whole group wishes that Lapinlahti would stay as a centre of culture and mind well-being.

• This is Lapinlahti for all, they say to the decision-makers.

Original text: Päivi Mikkola.