In the new coalition agreement, the government sets out clear ambitions regarding mental health. In particular, the focus on prevention, early intervention, and evidence-based support aligns well with what @ease has been working towards for years.
Around 70% of mental health problems develop before the age of 25, while only about 30% of young people receive timely and appropriate support. That’s exactly why early prevention is so important. By offering young people an accessible place to talk early on, we can help prevent small worries from growing into more serious problems.
At @ease, we see every day what happens when stress, uncertainty, or low mood are left unaddressed for too long. Young people who get stuck, but still don’t have a place where they can share their story. That’s where the biggest societal gain can be made.
Room for resilience and support
The coalition agreement focuses on:
- Investments in programs at school, at work, and in the neighborhood to strengthen mental resilience
- Room for good support, including the deployment of student psychologists (as is common at @ease)
- Actively encouraging mental health initiatives by students and young people themselves
With this, the coalition parties acknowledge that mental health is not a side issue, but a prerequisite for a future-proof society.
Not everything is care, but everything deserves attention.
The coalition also notes that too many young people currently end up in youth care, even though not everything they experience is a care-related problem. A clear distinction is therefore being made between prevention, light support, and specialist care. That is an important and helpful principle.
At @ease, we recognize this picture. Many young people who come to us are not in crisis, but they are feeling stuck because of stress, uncertainty, pressure to perform, or difficulties at home or at school. A conversation with a peer, without judgment or labels, is often enough to regain a sense of control. It creates recognition, equality, and connection.
At @ease, peers are the first point of contact, supported by a strong network of local professionals and psychiatrists. In this way, we connect young people’s everyday world with the local care and support system, helping to prevent problems from unnecessarily escalating into more complex care needs.
Proven effect counts
The coalition agreement also states that, wherever possible, only evidence-based youth care will be reimbursed. This is also a positive development. The approach of @ease is scientifically grounded and shows that timely, accessible conversations contribute to better functioning and help prevent escalation.
It is no coincidence that we recently emphasized this in a letter to informateur Letty Letschert, in which we called for strengthening prevention and first-stop services for young people. It is encouraging to now see this direction reflected in the agreement.
Working together
This coalition agreement lays an important foundation. Now is the time to translate these ambitions into practice, together with civil society, education, and young people themselves.
Mental struggles are part of life. The question is not whether young people will encounter them, but whether they can find someone who listens in time. Working towards a mentally resilient generation means investing in young people who are better equipped to handle life, less dependent on more intensive care, and better able to participate in school and work. It contributes to a society in which mental struggles are seen as normal and remain open for discussion.
@ease is ready to get to work together. Because talking helps. And the sooner that happens, the greater the effect.
Want to know more about our approach? The ambitions set out in the coalition agreement align with our approach, which has also not gone unnoticed internationally. The OECD recently officially recognized @ease as a “best practice” in the field of early intervention.
Read more about our international recognition here.