Good mental healthcare in the Netherlands

Living in another country can be a rewarding, life-changing experience, but it is not without its difficulties. Many internationals underestimate how confronting life in a foreign country far away from close family members and their usual frame of reference can be, and the impact this can have on mental health. Unquestionably the pandemic added to this. 

According to a survey in the Netherlands conducted by the International Community Advisory Panel (ICAP), 70% of respondents said the pandemic negatively impacted their mental health, and 17% were unsure where to find help. 

Megan, an international who sought help, says, “locals benefit from deep roots with peers and established communities, while internationals spend their energy trying to find and cultivate a new community for themselves. It can be quite draining.” 

Expat blues 

“Do not feel embarrassed about saying you are in a bad place,” says Rachel, an international who experienced stress and depression as a result of difficult life events. “Once you start to speak openly about needing help, most people are willing to help you. Reach out to organisations like ACCESS for confidential advice.” 

“Talking with an impartial partner can lead to insights you couldn’t see for yourself through the fog,” adds Megan “I’ve wondered too many times whether my decision to move here was brave or crazy or stupid. But I never doubted that seeking professional help was the right thing to do.” 

Lost in translation 

Even for internationals who speak Dutch, feeling comfortable talking will often mean a professional who can communicate easily. “When it comes to emotional and mental issues,” Rachel says “it is easier for people to communicate in their native language– to articulate and express how you think and feel.” 

“What was important was to find someone with whom I felt comfortable, had the right experience I was seeking, and who was able to communicate easily in English even though I had reasonable command of the Dutch language,” she adds. 

While getting help with mental health issues has become less of a taboo, this–along with the pandemic–can also mean that help is less accessible. This is particularly an issue for internationally-focussed mental health professionals. But if someone really needs help and, because of availability, only a Dutch psychologist is available, everyone we spoke to agrees that they should start there rather than delay in getting help.

More acceptance

While mental health is increasingly being talked about openly, the pandemic has seen that “so many more people have been in need of support,” says Proutuli. “I see a lot more couples and a lot more men than before.” Sizoo adds, “expats who arrived in the Netherlands during the pandemic were not able to make the connections at work or socially that they would normally make. The natural adjustment has been disrupted.”

“There is nothing to be ashamed of,” says Bauke Bult, a Dutch psychologist who also works with English-speaking clients. “It is quite normal to seek help from a psychologist, and to tell friends about it.”

For anyone struggling but having difficulty finding a professional, there is help online for mental health issues. “In the past two years it has been a lifeline for many,” says Sizoo, “and as a result we have become more and more skilled in working online. Many of us who used to work only face-to-face now offer a combination of the two.” 

Protouli agrees, but “the client has to take it as seriously as they would take in-person therapy. Therapy is not just about talking, it’s about being, experiencing.” CSN member Katarina Gaborova says that during the pandemic, “people became more comfortable with ‘e-health’”. 

Finding support from the community, while not a replacement for professional help, can also benefit. “Being part of a group and a community that shares experiences and support can be very helpful,” says Gaborova. 

Help for young people 

“As difficult as it is for adults to navigate the system,” Helen cautions, “it can be hard for children and young people to find help. Almost all the parents of older children I spoke to told me that their children had been in a crisis situation during the pandemic.” According to one counsellor, mental healthcare for young people can be “patchy and not enough”. 

Bult says concerns about school and the future, problems with family dynamics, and a lack of socialisation with peers during the pandemic have led to stress and an increase in depressive disorders in young people, and acknowledges that while the system is not perfect, things are improving. Gaborova points out that there might be more types of support for young people “via their GP, school or college, or the consultatiebureau (paediatric consultation office)”. 

It works 

“I would certainly encourage anyone to talk to a trusted person about their struggles,” says Rachel. The most important thing is to seek help. Everyone we spoke to agreed that there is no need to feel embarrassed. “I am still benefiting from my treatment,” says Helen. “Many people don’t have a safe space to express their emotions, doubts and fears and a good therapist can provide this.” 

For Rachel, her therapy meant, “I was better equipped and had access to the necessary tools that allowed me to stay grounded and support others during the pandemic lockdowns.” 

(Names have been changed to protect confidentiality)

About the author 

Jacqueline Pemberton is a British-Australian freelance writer living in the Netherlands.