The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for ensuring effective services for people with mental health or substance abuse problems. The Ministry determines the guidelines for development of services, drafts relevant legislation and steers the implementation of reforms. It also supervises the quality of services through the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) and the State Provincial Offices.

The municipalities are responsible for organising the services.

It is important to further the promotion of mental health and drug-free lifestyles, preventive substance abuse and mental health work and the treatment of mental health disorders and substance abuse problems through cooperation between social and health services. The goal is to provide easily accessible, flexible services according to the principle of a single entry point and treatment of mental health disorders and substance abuse problems simultaneously in one unit.

The so called Mieli 2009 Working Group set up by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has drawn up a national action plan dealing with mental health and substance abuse. It outlines, for the first time at the national level, the development of mental health and substance abuse work as an integrated whole.