About Pelirajaton
Pelirajatons (Pelirajaton means “Limitless Gambling Program” in English) mission is to provide nationwide peer support, services led by experts by experience, and services guided by the Pelirajaton team to people experiencing the harmful effects of gambling and their loved ones. Our goal is to increase understanding of the harmful effects of gambling and to help people find strength, hope, and ways to make changes and improve their well-being.
Pelirajaton is open to anyone experiencing the harmful effects of gambling, as well as to those affected by them who are seeking support for their situation.
Our goal is to increase understanding of the harmful effects of gambling and to help people find the strength, hope, and tools they need to make changes and improve their well-being. At the same time, we provide information on the harmful effects of gambling to social and health care professionals. We also collaborate with the county’s well-being areas.
Our work is based on openness and transparency. The Pelirajaton team is responsible for developing, monitoring, and evaluating our activities, as well as ensuring the quality of our work.
The Sosped Foundation runs the Pelirajaton program and funded by STEA (the Funding Center for Social Welfare and Health Care), which operates under the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
Volunteer Peer Facilitators
Pelirajaton has nearly 100 volunteer peer facilitators and nearly 20 Experts by Experience. All of our volunteers have personal experience with gambling or with living with someone who gambles.
Volunteers who join our program complete a Peer Fasilitators Training course (2 credits). Through this training, we ensure the quality of our peer support services and promote the well-being of our volunteers.
Our Peer Support Services
Our services are divided into two categories of support services: guidance and counseling services, and change-oriented Support services.
Guidance and counseling services are intended for individuals who want to reflect on their own gambling habits or who need support in living with a loved one who gambles.
Change-oriented Support
For gamblers: This support is intended for individuals who have decided to stop gambling and want to build a permanently gambling-free life. The support helps them cope with the challenges of daily life without gambling, identify thoughts and feelings that perpetuate gambling, change harmful behavior patterns, and prevent relapse.
For affected ones: Support for loved ones focuses on strengthening their own well-being, processing difficult emotions and thoughts, and finding coping strategies that support their own resilience and daily lives.
Our Operating Principles
At Pelirajaton, everyone is welcome just as they are. Our members include people of all ages, genders, and life situations, united by their experience with the harmful effects of gambling—either in their own lives or in the lives of someone close to them.
Our work is based on equality, mutual respect, and a safe environment. We treat every person as a valued individual, regardless of their background, identity, life situation, or experiences. We want to build a community where everyone can be heard, acknowledged, and accepted without fear of stigma or discrimination.
Equality and Respect for Human Dignity
Pelirajaton’s activities are open to everyone. We treat every person with respect and equality, regardless of age, gender, background, life situation, functional ability, beliefs, or identity. Everyone has the right to be accepted for who they are in a safe and accepting environment.
Trust and a Safe Environment
Our work is based on trust, which enables openness. Information about participants is not disclosed to outsiders without permission, nor are matters or events related to them discussed in a way that identifies them to outsiders. Participation is also possible anonymously. Peer mentors and participants are bound by confidentiality both during and after the activities. The substance-free nature of the activities ensures physical and psychological safety and creates a safe space for processing emotions and thoughts. No money is requested or lent in connection with the activities.
Encounters and Constructive Interaction
We approach people with acceptance and positivity, not with criticism. We do not presume to know what is best for others. We hear and listen, and we make room for interaction and different opinions. Everyone has an equal right to speak without being interrupted. Everyone also has the right to remain silent.
Shared Responsibility for Success
Participants set their own goals. They are also responsible for advancing those goals at their own pace and in their own individual way. The role of peer facilitators is to guide the interaction, help people find their own solutions, and ensure that the discussion stays on track.
Valuing Volunteerism and Peer Support
Our activities are voluntary and free of charge. They do not generate financial gain, and peer mentors are not paid a salary. We do not provide treatment, therapy, or rehabilitation, but we refer people to professional help when necessary. We believe in the power of peer support—shared knowledge, learning from experiences, and new perspectives all support resilience. We treat one another with respect, regardless of beliefs or background. We trust in each person’s ability to assess their own life and make choices that are meaningful to them.