The research was commissioned by twenty health funds, which indicate that they are concerned about the lack of attention to the mental health of young people and the stigma attached to psychological complaints.
Performance society
According to them, many young people have difficulties with the performance society in which they grow up and the stress they experience due to pressure at school. In addition, mental health assistance is insufficient for this group.
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For example, the waiting lists in youth mental health care are far too long. “We cannot stay on the sidelines and let the problem get bigger and bigger. Young people should not be the victim of this”, says Merel Heimens Visser, director of the Brain Foundation.
‘Danger to society’
According to the researchers, many young people find it difficult to be open about their mental health. “As many as 34 percent of young people often mistakenly think that people with psychological problems are a danger to society.”
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The health organizations jointly start the Alliance for a Mentally Healthy Generation, to ‘end psychological distress and help Dutch young people to be mentally healthy’.
Prevention agreement
Today the alliance presents a manifesto to the Lower House in which it calls on politicians to come to a ‘Prevention Agreement on Mental Health’.
The Amsterdam UMC survey was conducted among more than 2,100 young people from different groups, aged 15 to 25 years.
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