A listening ear can make all the difference. Research from a Maastricht University (UM) research consortium shows that young people aged 12 to 25 who visit @ease experience less stress, feel better in daily life, and are satisfied with the conversations.
Many young people in the Netherlands deal with mental struggles. Data shows that more than half of Dutch youth have experienced mental health issues at some point. And yet, many get stuck: waiting lists are long, asking for help can feel like a huge step, and when you turn 18, you suddenly fall between youth and adult care.
That’s why @ease was founded in 2018. Young people can walk in for free and anonymously, no appointment needed. They talk with two peer counsellors: people their own age who understand what it’s like to struggle. The peer counsellors are trained volunteers who are there to listen. A psychologist or psychiatrist is available for support behind the scenes, but doesn’t join the conversation.
Research among @ease visitors aged 12–25 (collected between 2018–2022) shows that mental health complaints decrease during the first three visits and daily functioning improves. Young people report less stress, feel better in their daily lives, and are satisfied with the conversations at @ease.
Between 2018 and 2022, 754 young people completed a short questionnaire after visiting @ease. The following were examined:
- Mental complaints such as stress or depression
- How things are going at school or work
- School absenteeism
- School absenteeism
On average, young people visited @ease 1 to 2 times. A smaller group visited @ease more often, almost 4 times on average.
Who came by?
- Most visitors were between 18 and 25 years old.
- About 65% were women. Among young people who returned more frequently, the proportion of women and men was closer together.
- Many visitors were students, often international students.
- One in three had a parent with mental health problems.
- 2 in 5 young people had extremely high stress scores at the start.
- Striking: over 90% of young people had serious mental health complaints when they first came to @ease. Think of low mood, anxiety, stress, negative thoughts, or feeling worthless.
- One in four young people said they were dealing with suicidal thoughts. Yet most of them had not received any other form of support in the three months before coming to @ease.
What changed?
The researchers saw clear improvements:
- Less stress: Young people felt significantly better by their second and third visits. On average, their stress levels decreased.
- Better functioning: they were able to cope better in their daily lives, such as with school, work or social contacts.
- More support: young people were more likely to receive other forms of help after a visit, such as through their GP or a study advisor.
- Fewer dropouts: Young people who attended school more often were particularly absent from school. Absenteeism fell by almost 30% among young people who attended at least three times.
Satisfied visitors
The appreciation for @ease was high: young people gave their visit an average score of 4.5 out of 5. More than 90% of young people were (very) satisfied with their visit to @ease.
- 60% were very satisfied
- 33% were satisfied
- Only 2.5% were dissatisfied
Why is this important?
The results from @ease match international experiences. Countries like Australia and Ireland have similar initiatives. And everywhere, the message is the same: low-threshold support works. Young people feel better, and are more likely to seek further help when needed.
This is extra important for the Netherlands:
- Young people experience a lot of pressure and stress
- They often have difficulty finding their way to care
- Regular mental health care has long waiting times
What does this mean for the future?
Research shows that @ease is a valuable addition to existing mental health care. Young people start to feel better, feel heard, and get support in taking the right next steps.
The researchers do emphasise that more research is needed. For example: what about the young people who only came once, how are they doing now? And what happens in the long run, do the improvements last?
Conclusion
The researchers do emphasise that more research is needed. For example: what about the young people who only came once, how are they doing now? And what happens in the long run, do the improvements last?
@ease shows that with simple tools, an open door, peers who listen, and professional support in the background, it’s possible to help young people and prevent problems from getting worse.
Curious about all the results?
Read the full scientific article: “Evaluating changes in functioning and psychological distress in visitors of the @ease youth mental health walk-in centres”.
Do you have any questions about @ease or our methodology? Feel free to contact us; we’d be happy to tell you more.