Shooting incident at Viertola school on April 2 – support available to children, the young, and guardians
There has been a shooting incident at Viertola school, and the suspect has been detained. Multiple actors offer discussion help in the crisis situation.
The police is responsible for informing about the incident.
Read police press releases
Read the latest police release
Follow the police’s information here.
The incident may have shocked the children, teens, and guardians. Multiple actors offer discussion help.
Support provided by the Vantaa and Kerava wellbeing services county
Schoolchildren and their guardians are provided with support by their school’s student welfare employees, that is, psychologists, student advisors, and nurses. In addition, students at educational institutions and their guardians can contact the student welfare services of their own educational institution. Daycare centers, too, offer student welfare services. The student welfare services’ contact information is available on the Vantaa and Kerava wellbeing services county’s website (in Finnish).
Vantaa and Kerava wellbeing services county’s emergency service: Tel. 09 4191 5800
Help provided by third-sector actors
- Mieli ry: national crisis phones.
- Finnish Red Cross: tips on helping children and the young in crises.
- Finnish Red Cross: support phone numbers and services.
- The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare : Support for family concerns and crices.
- Traumaterapiakeskus (Trauma Centre Finland): How you can help a child in a crisis?
- Save the Children Finland: Netari-chat (in Finnish)
- Save the Children Finland: How to support a child during a crisis. Also in Dari, Pashto, Ukrainian and Russian.
- Sekasin-kollektiivi: Sekasin-chat, for 12–29 year olds. Open Mon-Fri 9-24, Sat-Sun 15-24. In Finnish.
- SOS-Lapsikylä: Apuu-chat, for 7-15 year olds. Open Mon-Sun 9-22. In Finnish.
- SOS-Lapsikylä: VanhemmuudenApuu-chat, for all parents of children under the age of 18. Open Mon-Sun 17-22. In Finnish.
Help provided by congregations
- Tikkurila Church has employees on the spot with whom you can talk. Tikkurila Church’s opening hours: on weekdays, Mon-Fri, at 7:30-21:00, Sat, at 9:00-18:00, and Sun, at 9:00-18:00. Go to site: Lutheran church in Vantaa.
- Tikkurila Church’s on-call priest’s phone service for discussion, tel: 09 830 6202, weekdays, Mon-Fri, at 12:00–15:00.
- Contact information of all Vantaa congregations’ on-call priests.
- The church’s national helpdesk is available every day at 18:00-24:00, tel. 0400 221 180.
- The orthodox parish.
- Vantaan vapaaseurakunta (in Finnish).
Youth center’s help
Youth center employees are prepared to talk with the young about today’s events. The youth centers will be open today and tomorrow as follows:
- Tikkurila youth center (Lummetie 2 B C) is open on Tue, April 2, at 14.00–18.00 and on Wed, April 3, at 14.00–16.00.
- Mikkola youth center (Lyyranpolku 2) is open on Tue, April 2, at 13.00–15.00.
- Martinlaakso youth center (Martinlaaksonpolku 9) is open on Tue, April 2, at 15.00–18.00.
Outreach youth work meets the young in various meeting places that the young favor in Vantaa, for instance, in shopping malls and rain stations. You will recognize outreach youth workers by their black coats with the Nuorisotyö raiteilla text.
Liito offers support and discussion help to young adults in Tikkurila (Lummetie 2 B C), on April 2, at 15.00–18.00. In addition to city employees, also Finnish Red Cross volunteers and congregation’s employee will be on the spot. All guardians and adults shocked by the shooting incident are welcome to come to Liitto and discuss the events.
Outreach youth work will be on-call weekdays at 9:00 to 15:00, tel. 050 312 4372 (including Whatsapp). You can also contact outreach youth workers on chat. You will find the chat on their Vantaa.fi website by clicking on the blue speech bubble.
The City of Vantaa offers their deepest condolences
The City of Vantaa express their deepest condolences to the family and friends of the child who died in the tragedy. We wish strength to the children injured in the tragedy and their families. All the pupils and staff of the school are in our thoughts.
Read more: Crisis support at Viertola Comprehensive School continues.
Read more: Donʼt spread rumours and misinformation about the Viertola tragedy
News updated on 9.4.2024 at 11.40: Updated information about the support provided by youth work.
News updated on 11.4.2024 at 15.44: Added a link to an article on the website about frequently asked questions and a link to the latest police release.
