Over 40% of residents in the Netherlands experience anxiety or depression, with a quarter of all adults living with a mental health condition. Yet only one in twenty adults receives treatment in specialized mental healthcare, according to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the Trimbos Institute.
The prevalence of anxiety and depression has risen over the past decade, from 36% in 2014 to nearly 44% last year. The increase is particularly pronounced among young people and women.
RIVM and Trimbos urged the next government to prioritize mental health, emphasizing prevention and early detection. “Identifying problems early can prevent them from worsening,” the institutes said. Measures could include monitoring financial insecurity, which is closely linked to anxiety and depression, and ensuring accessible care and support even outside traditional mental healthcare.
Mental health issues cost Dutch society billions of euros each year. Patients require care, may be temporarily unable to work, and some become permanently disabled. Delays in treatment can exacerbate symptoms. The Netherlands currently spends around €500 per resident annually on mental healthcare, according to the institutes.
Trimbos and RIVM have repeatedly called for increased investment in mental health to address the growing burden on individuals and society.
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