Sanna Vesikansa

Director, Crisis Services MIELI Mental Health, Finland

Sanna Vesikansa is Director of Crisis Services at MIELI Mental Health Finland. MIELI is a Finnish NGO founded in 1897 and one of the oldest non-governmental organizations in mental health in the world. Sanna is Master of Social Sciences in Sociology from the University of Helsinki. In her previous positions Sanna has served as Deputy Mayor responsible for Health and Social Services for the City of Helsinki in 2017-2021 and as Advocacy Advisor for Save the Children Finland.  Sanna has worked also more than 10 years in several positions for National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) for example leading a health systems strengthening programme in Lesotho and other international advisory roles. In 2005-2006 she worked for the UNFPA Ethiopia country office. Having served 16 years as city councilor in various positions in Helsinki - last four years as board member of the HUS Helsinki University Hospital - she is currently board member in the Mental Health Europe, and in the Finnish Itla Children's Foundation and RETS Life without Crime Foundation. She is also co-chairing the health and social policy expert group of the Green party.