As a state mental hospital Niuvanniemi Hospital can, at the request of the county wellbeing services, admit persons suffering from mental illnesses and mental disorders and whose treatment is particularly dangerous or difficult (Mental Health Act, Section 6). The medical director of Niuvanniemi makes the decision concerning the admittance of these patients.
At the end of 2022 there were 109 difficult-to-treat and/or dangerous patients at Niuvanniemi Hospital (39% of patients). Patients who are referred to Niuvanniemi by municipal hospitals are often suffering from psychosis-associated violent of self-harming behaviour, often complicated with substance abuse problems. The average treatment time for the difficult-to-treat and/or dangerous patients at the hospital at the end of December 2022 was 6 years and 4 months.