For municipalities
Local authorities are tasked with reaching young people earlier, strengthening their mental resilience, and improving the connection between social services and healthcare.
@ease puts this ambition into practice at a local level. Each @ease location is an accessible drop-in service that strengthens the social support network and supports young people before more intensive care is needed.
Young people are increasingly facing mental health challenges. These can include loneliness, low mood, social pressure, problems at home, or feeling stuck. At the same time, pressure on youth care is increasing and waiting lists remain. Through the Additional Care and Well-being Agreement (AZWA) and the Integrated Care Agreement (IZA), municipalities are being asked to invest in prevention, early identification, and a strong social support network.
But how do you give substance to that at a local level?
@ease is a scientifically supported, accessible drop-in service where young people can have a free, anonymous conversation with a trained peer, without needing an appointment. We strengthen the social support network, identify problems at an early stage, and help young people find the right support when they need more help.
Want to meet?
Why municipalities choose @ease
Many young people experience stress, insecurity, or early signs of mental health problems, but don’t seek help. The barrier to accessing regular care is often too high, while having someone to listen at the right moment can make a real difference.
At @ease, young people can find a safe space where they can share their story, without a referral or diagnosis. This doesn’t always prevent the need for more intensive care, but it does help make problems easier to talk about earlier and helps young people find the right support sooner.
In doing so, @ease forms a valuable addition to the existing range of well-being and care services.
Yes. Both the Additional Care and Well-being Agreement (AZWA) and the Integrated Care Agreement (IZA) focus on prevention, a strong social support network, and accessible drop-in services. @ease directly aligns with these goals through a scientifically supported approach that reaches young people early and, when needed, connects them with appropriate support.
@ease is there for young people aged 12 to 25 who need someone to listen. This can include young people experiencing early mental health problems, stress, or insecurity, as well as those waiting for treatment, who have recently finished care, or simply need someone to talk to. @ease offers an accessible first step, before more intensive support is needed.
A proven approach
@ease combines peer support, professional guidance, and scientific research in one approach. Our method is based on the Australian headspace model and was scientifically developed in collaboration with Maastricht University.
Research shows that young people, after conversations at @ease:
- Experience less mental stress
- Functioning better at school, at work, and in social situations
- Show reduced school absenteeism
- Rate the conversations with an average score of 9.
In 2025, @ease was recognized by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as one of 11 international best practices in the field of youth mental health.
Together with the municipality
Each @ease location is embedded in the local community and works closely with the municipality, social support organizations, educational institutions, and local healthcare partners. Trained peer listeners are supervised by professionals and supported by a dedicated backup team.
The national @ease team supports new locations with the methodology, training, quality assurance, communication, and scientific monitoring. Each @ease location provides an accessible drop-in service that strengthens the social support network and helps young people find their way to appropriate support when needed.
Municipalities play an important role in establishing an @ease location. They bring partners together, contribute to a strong social support network, and can help with the long-term funding and local integration of the drop-in service.
An @ease location is usually funded through a combination of municipal funding, healthcare and social support partners, foundations, and other local funders. The national @ease team supports new locations with their launch, methodology, training, quality assurance, and marketing and PR.
A local implementation partner is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the location, including coordination, volunteer support, and collaboration with the local network. The national @ease team provides support with the launch, methodology, training, quality assurance, and marketing & PR.
All @ease locations work according to the same national methodology. Peer listeners are carefully selected and trained and receive professional supervision. In addition, each location works with a dedicated professional backup team, and all locations participate in national quality monitoring.
All @ease locations participate in scientific research led by Maastricht University. After a conversation, young people can choose to take part in the research voluntarily and anonymously, allowing us to continue measuring and improving the impact of our approach.
Yes. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) names @ease as one of 11 international best practices for youth mental health in its 2025 report, Mental Health Promotion and Prevention: Best Practices in Public Health (2025). According to the OECD, the approach is not only effective but also cost-effective and highly scalable. The combination of peer support, accessible services, scientific evidence, and a standardized methodology makes it possible to successfully implement @ease in different locations.
Interested in an @ease location?
Curious about what an @ease location could mean for your municipality? We would be happy to discuss the possibilities with you and explain how a location can be established locally.