The mental health of young people has declined. This is evident from the latest quarterly survey (June 2025) by the Network for Health Research in Disasters. More young people reported feeling lonely, experiencing more stress, and having serious thoughts of suicide. 

The number of contacts young people had with their general practitioners regarding suicide was significantly higher this quarter than in previous quarters. Compared to 2019, the period before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of GP contacts is now 70 percent higher. A reason for this cannot be provided based on these GP data.

Data on adults approximately the same

The mental health of adults remained stable. The percentage of adults who usually feel happy slightly decreased from 83 to 80 percent, but the percentage experiencing loneliness (42 percent) or stress (25 percent) remained the same. Furthermore, new GP data shows that adults visited their GP more often in the first half of 2025 due to fatigue and memory and concentration problems. The number of visits for these issues was already higher in 2023 and 2024 than in 2019, the period before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research program on the effects of the COVID crisis on health

For five years (2021-2025), the Network GOR collects information on the effects of the COVID pandemic on the health and happiness of people in the Netherlands. This research program is called the Integral Health Monitor COVID-19. The monitor shows what the mental and physical health is at a certain time in the Netherlands and how it changes over time. Policymakers can develop better policies with this current knowledge. Regular discussions are also held with experience experts, professionals, and care and education professionals.

Network GOR consists of the RIVM, local GGD Municipal Health Service (Municipal Health Service)s, GGD GHOR Nederland Municipal / Community Health Service – Medical Assistance Organization in the Region (Municipal / Community Health Service – Medical Assistance Organization in the Region), the Nivel, and ARQ National Psychotrauma Center (National Psychotrauma Center) National Psychotrauma Center. ZonMw Health Research Netherlands & Medical Sciences (Health Research Netherlands & Medical Sciences) is commissioned by the Ministry of VWS Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport) to conduct the research.