Today at 16:00, a Mental Health Investment Bank will open in Ülemiste City, Tallinn, where people can invest time, attention and care instead of money. Created by the Estonian Coalition for Mental Health and Well-being (VATEK), the bank brings together practical tools and recommendations to help people make caring for their mental health an everyday habit.

The bank’s opening marks the culmination of this year’s Mental Health Month, held under the theme “Investing in Mental Health.” Throughout October, the Estonian Coalition for Mental Health and Well-being has encouraged individuals, employers and communities across Estonia to recognise opportunities to invest in their own well-being and that of others.

According to Kadri Haljas, Executive Director of VATEK, the idea behind the investment bank is to change the way we think about mental health.

“We are used to paying special attention to our health when something has already gone wrong. Yet mental health requires the same consistent care as physical health. We should not wait until someone is exhausted or experiencing burnout before thinking about how to support their well-being,” says Haljas.

She emphasises that looking after our mental health does not necessarily require significant spending or major lifestyle changes.

“An investment might be a ten-minute break, a walk, a phone call to someone close to us, or simply deciding to finish work on time. These are small but meaningful steps. We want to help people find activities that work for them and gradually turn them into lasting habits,” Haljas explains.

The Mental Health Investment Bank brings together practical recommendations, worksheets and exercises on a single website, www.vaimsetervisepank.ee, helping people take better care of their mental health.

For example, visitors can receive a randomly selected “quick investment” — a small activity or action they can try to support their well-being.

The bank does not aim to offer a one-size-fits-all solution. People’s needs, circumstances and preferences vary, and there are many different ways to support mental health. What matters is finding activities that fit naturally into each person’s everyday life.

While the investment bank is not a substitute for professional mental health care, it aims to place greater emphasis on prevention and everyday well-being.

“We often talk about how to treat mental health problems once they have developed. That is absolutely essential, but it is equally important to ask what we can do to prevent these problems in the first place. The earlier we can support someone, the greater the chance of preventing both further suffering and rising costs to society,” Haljas stresses.

The opening address will be delivered by Emilia Berg, the noorsootska – the youth representative of King Peko in the traditional Seto Kingdom – and a representative of Tartu, Estonia’s Youth Capital.

Following the ceremony, guests will be invited to make their first investments in mental health by taking part in short practical exercises and activities.

However, the opening of the bank marks not the end of the campaign, but the beginning of its next chapter.

“We want to reach a point where looking after our mental health is not something we think about only in October, or when we are already struggling. Our goal is to make every day a mental health day,” says Haljas.

VATEK plans to keep the investment bank running beyond Mental Health Month and to expand it with new resources and practical tools.