Hello,

I am Henri Backman, a 45 years old paramedic and Master of Administrative Sciences.

I am also trained as an expert in crisis work, a corporate security specialist, and have studied child protection and family work. I am currently conducting research on the pilot project of the Pirkanmaa mental health ambulance.

Important values for me are equality, caring for nature and the climate, accessibility, and ensuring that every person can live and reside safely just as they are. Every person is a unique and individual being.

I was born and have lived most of my life in Tampere, but I have gained valuable international experience that has helped me grow as a person and better understand the different backgrounds of people.

Why am I running in the elections? Because I want Tampere to be a better place to live and Pirkanmaa’s wellbeing county to ensure that everyone has access to sufficient and appropriate social and healthcare services. To achieve these goals, I have a lot to offer based on my experience and expertise. I want to share the experience I have gained from the Red Cross, Scouting, university, and my previous trust positions for the benefit of all of us. The best way I see for this experience to be used is by you electing me as a representative.

Additionally, my previous chairmanship of Pirkanmaan Jätehuolto Oy and my current chairmanship of Ekokumppanit Oy offer valuable perspectives on how our daily lives could be more sustainable. I have also completed the Chamber of Commerce’s certified board member (HHJ) training and the certified board chairperson qualification. As a lay judge in the Pirkanmaa District Court, I have learned a lot about our law and processes over the nearly 8 years.

I want to give all my diverse expertise, experience, and networks to my beloved hometown Tampere and the Pirkanmaa wellbeing area.

I belong to the Green Party because I want our one and only planet and its unique nature to be preserved, and I want everyone to be treated as humans without discrimination. I also have a connection to the Social Democrats through my grandfather and my active involvement in trade union activities. For me, the well-being and rights of workers are important. I was a member of the National Coalition Party in my youth, and the concerns of entrepreneurs are significant to me, as I grew up in our family business.

My Themes:

Tampere

Sustainable and Safe Tampere: By a sustainable and safe Tampere, I mean that the city develops with sustainable solutions that take the environment and recycling into account. For example, there was a construction project in the city center where efforts were made to reuse as many building materials as possible from a demolished building. We need more trials and research like this.

Sustainability also means that purchases and decisions are environmentally friendly and as local as possible. Sustainability can also be increased in schools, daycare centers, and workplaces by ensuring recycling and circular economy practices.

A safe Tampere means that the city is safe to move around at any time of the day or night. This applies to traffic and other matters. For example, crosswalks could have clear flashing lights when crossed. Speed limits should be low enough because speed has a significant impact on injuries in accidents. Additionally, we must ensure that no one’s privacy or background is infringed upon while walking on the street. We all have the duty to address inappropriate behavior, while naturally considering our own safety. It is also important to ensure that there are enough safe places for young people to be and grow. For example, the area around Laikun Lava in the summer is not an ideal place for young people. On the other hand, there should also be places for substance users and homeless individuals where they can spend their day and receive help, so they don’t have to endure the weather and public judgment outdoors.

Effective and Accessible Traffic Solutions: Tampere’s traffic has greatly developed in recent years with the addition of trams. The tram line is still expanding, and right now, trams are being built to Härmälä and Pirkkala. Tampere is also undergoing many other constructions works. These all bring changes to the traffic. Information about these changes is communicated well, and as an emergency medical technician, I haven’t had any issues with ambulance movement. Routes may change, but we always get to our destinations. I don’t believe anyone has a busier schedule than we sometimes do. However, during construction, accessibility needs to be considered to ensure that those who can’t walk and need mobility aids can still easily handle their tasks.

Trams are very accessible compared to buses. It has been nice to see that the demand for trams has been responded to by adding more trips, ordering new trams, and improving transfer connections. In other words, feedback has been acknowledged.

Private car usage is also necessary. Not everyone can use public transport. However, in Tampere city center, one can take care of their tasks by car, as the underground parking system is extensive. On the other hand, if someone needs to park right in front of a building due to mobility issues, this is also possible.

The Best Place to Live: Tampere is a popular city, and every year new residents move here. I am born here in Tampere and have seen the city’s development. Not everyone has always agreed on everything. There has been opposition, for example, to the construction of Tampere Hall and the tram line. However, nowadays, both are almost universally appreciated. We must be able to make bold decisions that develop the city, but these decisions must be well thought out and well-founded.

The city’s livability and well-being of Tampere residents are also enhanced by local nature, sports, culture, and many other things. These need to be maintained and made accessible to everyone. For example, I have suggested that the Pali service bus should allow for visits to the theater or ice hockey games in the evenings.

Nature improves mental well-being and the climate. Therefore, it is important to have easy access to nature quickly. Tampere is a great city in that we have Pyynikki, Pispala, and Kauppi right in the city center. These gems need to be preserved. Ekokumppanit Oy has done great work in increasing accessibility.

Tampere is also known for its theater culture, and we have many wonderful events. Culture plays an important role in well-being. We need to be proud of our diversity and ensure that Tampere continues to have events, theater performances, musicals, and various cultural experiences.

For us all to have a good life and residence in Tampere, we must ensure that no one is bullied in schools, workplaces, or anywhere else. Every person is equally valuable. No one should be bullied for their background, language, mobility, sexual orientation, gender, skin color, clothing, or anything else. All forms of discrimination and racism must be stopped. Usually, it’s just irrational fear and ignorance. Therefore, it’s important for the city to increase awareness and protect the rights of minorities, raising issues safely so they can be addressed.

PIrkanmaa Wellbeing County:

Well-Being of Employees: A healthy workforce ensures the best services. According to the old wisdom of personnel management, there should be a longer line at the back door of a workplace, where employees come in, than at the front door where customers enter. This ensures good service when the employer respects their employees.

Pirha (Wellbeing county of Pirkanmaa) has not had a very good reputation, for example, as an employer. Moreover, Pirha reduced occupational healthcare services at the beginning of the year. Occupational health doctors can no longer issue referrals for specialists in all cases. Instead, employees must go through their own health center. It’s not enough that the occupational health doctor has examined and confirmed the situation; Pirha’s doctor must also do it. This might bring in more revenue for Pirha, but it undermines employee benefits. Another cut was removing the right of our occupational health nurse to participate in employee-related negotiations, even though the occupational health nurse knows the employees best.

The City of Tampere provides its employees with an insurance fund, which means they receive support for services such as massage, dental care, and purchasing glasses. Support is also provided for long-term illnesses. Employees pay 0.125% of their salary for this insurance fund, so the benefit is significant. Pirha has not adopted this insurance fund, even though it was discussed and proposed. The reason seems to be that not all employees find it beneficial, although most do. The insurance fund would improve employee well-being affordably. Therefore, I am investigating how to extend this to Pirha employees. This requires an initial financial investment, but it will pay off in the long run.

Additionally, it would be beneficial to strengthen local leadership to ensure there are sufficient resources for responding to employees’ feedback and initiatives.

Sufficient Local Services and Face-to-Face Interaction: The number of elderly people is constantly increasing. Aging also increases loneliness and can reduce mobility. Many others also can’t always travel far. Moreover, digital or remote services are not always the best option for young people either.

Pirha has proposed moving elderly day services online. One of the justifications I heard was that it’s happening elsewhere too. I think this justification is poor. Why can’t Pirha set an example and not follow poor practices?

As a paramedic, I meet many elderly individuals who are not necessarily receiving any support. They can’t leave their homes. I guide them into support services. However, face-to-face meetings and local services are essential for all of us. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) recently published a study showing that remote workers also experience loneliness and need more days in the office to foster unity.

Pirha must therefore ensure sufficient local services and face-to-face interaction, for example, in day services. Many elderly people have home care, but a 15–30-minute visit is not the same as being able to talk to peers. Local services can be arranged as mobile services and don’t need to be daily. However, we all have the right to sufficient services and the opportunity to meet the right people face-to-face.

Supporting the Third Sector: The third sector plays an important role in service provision. Often, third sector services are more humane, of higher quality, and more affordable. However, it is important that the third sector is paid adequately.

I am a member of the Pirha multi-service committee. In one meeting, we heard from service providers about elderly housing services. Private providers stated that if an elderly person gets slightly ill, they call 112, and public healthcare takes over. A third sector representative said that their nurse tries to bring residents back to their own living services as soon as possible to minimize hospital visits. Which one sounds more ethical?

As a paramedic, I’ve encountered cases where, upon a doctor’s advice, 112 was called, but due to the patient’s care limitations, it wasn’t necessary to take them to the emergency room, even though the doctor had suggested it. We have agreed that the emergency room could cause confusion and the patient is better off being cared for in their own living services. I once had to take a terminally ill patient to the emergency room on a doctor’s order, even though it would have been more humane for them to die in their own bed with family members present.

These experiences have led me to believe that the third sector provides better and more humane services. The third sector needs adequate support and help, especially in competitive bidding processes.

Mental Health Ambulance for Pirkanmaa: As a paramedic, I participated in the pilot for the mental health ambulance, and I am now researching it. The aim is to turn this research into a dissertation. According to the research, the mental health ambulance reduced emergency room visits by about 10%. It also received positive feedback from patients for its humane and people-centered approach.

The mental health ambulance has sparked interest in other wellbeing areas, and there have been motions in the councils regarding it. The mental health ambulance is an important addition to the psychiatric treatment chain and saves money by enabling patients to be treated and supported at home. The mental health ambulance should be made a permanent service in Pirkanmaa and throughout Finland.

If you have any questions or thoughts after reading this or want to hear more about any topic, feel free to reach out. I’m here for you. I am because, you are, because we are!