Mental health problems among Dutch young people persist years after pandemic

Mental health problems among young people in the Netherlands have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, according to five years of research by five health organisations, including the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (Nivel).

The share of 16- to 25-year-olds reporting suicidal thoughts rose from 9% in December 2021 to 17% in March 2022 and remained elevated through the end of 2025, the researchers found. Their report is due to be presented to Health Minister Sophie Hermans on Thursday.

The researchers say the pandemic intensified existing pressure to perform and mental health problems. They identify young people who are LGBTQIA+, have money worries or have health problems as being at particular risk.

They recommend making it easier to discuss mental health difficulties without automatically treating them as illness. They also say the government should pay attention to emotions and personal experiences during crises, alongside statistics and rules, and monitor mental health before, during and after a crisis.