Mental health services in the Netherlands
The healthcare system in the Netherlands is well-regarded. In fact, it was listed among the top 10 nations in 2021 for living quality. However, mental health problems are still widespread in the nation, just like they are everywhere. In fact, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the first half of 2021 saw a very low point for mental health, with 15% of people aged 12 and older being classified as “psychologically unwell.” Since the organization began tracking mental health in 2001, this percentage has not been this high.
The Dutch government claims that the nation’s healthcare system includes comprehensive mental healthcare. The Ministry of Health, Wellbeing, and Sports is in charge of this. However, the Geestelijke Gezondheids Zorg (GGZ, or Mental Healthcare) is the organization in charge of the entire network of mental healthcare facilities and specialists throughout the Netherlands.
Insurance for mental healthcare
It is crucial to understand how Dutch health insurance operates before moving there. You can use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access Dutch healthcare if you are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen and only intend to stay in the nation for a brief period of time (less than a year). Beyond this, though, the Health Insurance Act requires that all people of the nation have a minimum level of standard health insurance (ZVW).
Basic mental healthcare is often covered by the country’s major health insurers. The particulars of your insurance provider and policy, however, can differ greatly from one to the next. Therefore, it is crucial that you increase the level of coverage to suit your specific demands as soon as you arrive. Otherwise, some costs associated with mental health care may be overlooked, and you would be responsible for them.
Some of the health insurance companies in the Netherlands include:
Newcomer in the Netherlands
When they relocate to the Netherlands, many expats discover that they require some kind of mental health care. It’s wonderful to relocate to a new nation with your family for a challenge, a change of scenery, and possibly a new job! But it takes more time and effort than some people realize to get used to a new language and culture. You can become unhappy, lonely, and melancholy as a result. Whether you are dealing with this or an other mental health problem that is unconnected to your move., It could be a little scary for a visitor to the Netherlands to navigate the healthcare system for the first time.
When it comes to your mental health, your GP (huisarts) should be your first port of call. You need a social security number (a burgerservicenummer, or BSN) and private health insurance in order to register with a general practitioner.
A general practitioner will refer you to primary or secondary mental healthcare if they believe it is essential. Primary care might include counseling sessions with a psychologist, psychotherapist, or psychiatrist and is intended to treat mild to moderate difficulties. Secondary care, on the other hand, is intended for more serious disorders like PTSD, ADHD, or depression and may occasionally require therapy at a particular facility.
According to the website of the Dutch government, health insurance companies are required to pay all or part of the cost of mental healthcare. But the kind of care that is covered depends on the insurance company and the policy, so it’s vital to double-check this with them beforehand.
Expat Organizations
The following are various solutions to this issue:
Some medical facilities cater particularly to international patients. These are especially prevalent in the Hague and Amsterdam areas.
‘PsyQ International’ is a prime illustration.
PsyQ is a mental health outpatient clinic created especially to assist and support foreign nationals.
Its staff members are well-versed in a variety of fields and can provide specialized psychiatric assistance in a number of languages. They have expat experience or are themselves, expatriates.
Employees at companies like these can really relate to you and the difficulties you’re going through.
Useful resources
- nl – the main mental healthcare page from the Dutch government which provides information on how to seek help
- nl – provides information about the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport in the Netherlands
- Geestelijke Gezondheids Zorg (GGZ) – the institution that provides a network of mental healthcare across the Netherlands
- Access NL – an NGO that is dedicated to expat healthcare and provides an on-call counseling service