Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in anxiety and depression complaints among young people, but during the pandemic this trend accelerated. The number of young people in the Netherlands at high risk of anxiety or depression disorders rose sharply between 2020 and 2022. This is evident from an inventory of international and Dutch research on trends in youth mental health by Nivel and RIVM.
The research consisted of an analysis of scientific literature combined with an analysis of existing Dutch data from the Health Monitor Adults and Elderly. The results of the research have been processed into a scientific article (external link) and a factsheet (external link) for Dutch policymakers.
Read the full news report on this research (external link) on the Nivel website.
About the research
The literature study is part of the Integral Health Monitor COVID-19 of the Network for Health Research in Disasters (GOR). This network consists of RIVM, Nivel, the National Psychotrauma Center ARQ National Psychotrauma Center (National Psychotrauma Center), the local GGD Municipal Health Service (Municipal Health Service) and GGD GHOR Nederland Municipal / Joint Health Service – Medical Assistance Organization in the Region (Municipal / Joint Health Service – Medical Assistance Organization in the Region). The project is subsidized on behalf of the Ministry of VWS Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport) by ZonMw (Dutch organization for health research and care innovation).