Mortality of young Finnish men still alarmingly high

Even though the number of violent deaths of young Finnish men is declining, it is still higher than the corresponding figures elsewhere in Western Europe. Moreover, the annual mortality rate of men aged 20 to 29 is four times higher than the figure among women in the same age group.
      According to mortality figures released by Statistics Finland, almost 500 men aged 15 to 34 died as a result of accidents and violence in 2004.
     
Primarily, the accident-related mortality of young men appears to be associated with foolhardy risk-taking and the consumption of alcohol or drugs.
     
Young men seem to have a need to take risks. "They actually look for places where they become subject to fear", says Professor Kimmo Lapintie of the Helsinki University of Technology.
      Lapintie also notes that while growing up, boys constantly tend to test their limits, and gradually the risks taken become bigger and bigger.
      Furthermore, fairly often daring swimmers and moped riders who are seeking to expand their horizons are also drunk, as indicated by the accident statistics.
     
Young men testing their limits often put also other people in danger. However, in Lapintie's view, safety cannot be improved by eliminating risks, as there is always a way to find the risk limits.
      The Professor suggests instead that disturbed behaviour should be recognised and taken into account in community planning.
     
"A safe neighbourhood is no good place for a young man who is seeking risks", Kimmo Lapintie claims.
      "Urban planning should include more roughness. We should offer young people places where they can challenge themselves without risking others. Good examples of such places are fields and industrial halls where reckless driving could be allowed", Lapintie concludes.
      Toni Raita, who is in charge of the European Stunt Riding Championship 2006 at Kiikala's Extreme Motorcycle Festival, near Salo, agrees and admits that he has been doing extreme sports since he was young. "I cannot accept those who do tricks on public roads. One may put himself at risk - not others", Raita states.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Excessive drinking keeps mortality rates high in North Karelia (2.2.2006)
  Alcohol abuse catching up with coronary disease as cause of death among Finnish men (3.11.2004)

Links:
  Helsinki University of Technology
  Statistics Finland
  Bomber Weekend 2006