@ease is receiving multi-year support from the Aegon Association to provide long-term support to young people. Thanks to this partnership, @ease can expand its work and help even more young people with mental health challenges, big or small.
This is desperately needed: 1 in 3 young people in the Netherlands suffers from mental health issues. Yet, only 30% receive the right help in time. Shame, uncertainty, and long waiting times often hinder proper care.
Since 2018, @ease has offered an accessible place where young people can talk freely. With the support of the Aegon Association, we can continue to grow and build a safe environment for all young people who need it.
Lodewijk Hijmans van den Bergh, Chair of the Aegon Association Board, shares:
“We believe every young person deserves a carefree youth, even though we know that’s not the case for everyone. When someone struggles or carries heavy worries, it affects every part of life — today and in the future. That’s why it’s so important that young people can access support early and easily. In the coming years, we’re proud to invest in young people’s mental well-being through @ease.”
@ease: talk to peers for free and anonymously
Young people aged 12 to 25 are welcome at @ease to talk with carefully trained peers at various drop-in centers or via online chat. Offering a listening and thoughtful ear, regardless of the topic, helps young people feel less alone and gain a sense of hope.
The involvement of local healthcare and social care professionals (including on-call psychiatrists and a direct link to the local psychiatric emergency service) guarantees a safe environment where young people receive expert advice and where scaling up is possible if necessary.
@ease is a scientifically proven intervention
Scientific research has been an integral part of the @ease methodology since its inception; it now demonstrates that @ease meets the needs of young people and reduces their symptoms.
Paul van der Velpen, chairman of @ease: “We are very pleased with the long-term support of the Aegon Association. It gives us the opportunity to consolidate @ease’s offering in the Netherlands and make it even more accessible to young people.”
More information about the social support provided by the Aegon Association can be found at
verenigingaegon.nl.