About Pelirajaton
Pelirajaton (meaning “Limitless Gambling Program”) is a Finnish peer support program for people affected by gambling harms. Pelirajaton has provided support for people affected by gambling harms since 2012. Our services are low-threshold, nationwide, almost year-round and mostly free of charge.
Our mission is to provide effective peer support, expert-by-experience services and professionally guided support for people who gamble and affected others. Our aim is to increase understanding of gambling harms and help people find strength, hope and ways to make changes and improve their wellbeing. Our goal is also to increase awareness of gambling harms among social care and healthcare professionals and strengthen collaboration with Finland’s wellbeing services counties.
Our work is based on openness and transparency. The Pelirajaton team is responsible for developing, monitoring and evaluating our services, as well as ensuring their quality.
Pelirajaton is run by the Sosped Foundation and mainly funded by STEA (the Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health Organisations), which operates under the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
Our approach
Gambling harms can affect mental health, relationships, family life, work, studies, finances and everyday functioning. These harms are often hidden and associated with shame and stigma.
At Pelirajaton, we focus on the person’s situation, resources, behaviour, relationships and everyday life. We believe that people can change their behaviour, strengthen their self-efficacy and regain a sense of agency in their own lives.
Our work is inspired by:
- social pedagogy
- cognitive behavioural thinking
- logotherapy
- empowerment-oriented practices
In practice, this means that we help people understand their thoughts, feelings and behaviour, find new ways of acting and build a life that supports wellbeing.
Volunteer Peer Mentors
Pelirajaton has around 80–90 active trained volunteer peer mentors across Finland. In addition, our work includes nearly 20 experts by experience with strong professional competence in gambling harms.
All peer mentors have personal experience of gambling harms, either through their own gambling or through being close to someone who gambles. Volunteers complete Pelirajaton’s peer mentor training programme (2 credits) before supporting others.
The Pelirajaton team trains, supports and guides volunteers. We also monitor and evaluate the quality and impact of our work.
Our Peer Support Services
Pelirajaton services are divided into two main categories:
1. Guidance and counselling
Guidance and counselling services offer low-threshold support for people who want to reflect on their gambling, talk about their situation or consider what kind of help they need.
Services include:
- Chats
- Peer Phone
- Consultations with Experts By Experience
- Webinars
- Saturdays for Affected Others
The purpose is to help people clarify their situation, express their thoughts and feelings, and consider what they are ready to do next.
2. Change-oriented support
Change-oriented support is intended for people who are ready to commit to longer-term support and personal change.
For people who gamble, the focus is on building a gambling-free life, strengthening self-efficacy, understanding thoughts and emotions linked to gambling, changing harmful behaviour patterns and preventing relapse.
For affected others, the focus is on strengthening personal wellbeing, setting boundaries, improving communication and finding ways to cope with a difficult situation.
Services include:
- Peer Support Groups
- One-to-One Support Relationships
- Empowerment Courses for Gamblers
- Weekends for Couples
Our Operating Principles
Respect and equality
We treat everyone with dignity, respect and equality. We trust people’s ability to make decisions about their own lives based on their values, goals and circumstances.
Trust and safety
Our activities are based on trust, confidentiality and psychological safety. Participation may be anonymous. Our services are substance-free, and no money is borrowed or lent in connection with our activities.
Shared responsibility and constructive dialogue
Participants define their own goals and progress at their own pace. Peer mentors support discussion, encourage reflection and help participants explore solutions that fit their own lives. Everyone has the right to be heard and to express their views.
Volunteering and peer support
Participation in our activities is voluntary and mainly free of charge. Peer mentors are volunteers who contribute their time and lived experience to support others. We believe that shared experiences, mutual learning and peer support can strengthen hope, wellbeing and the ability to create positive change.