May 22, 2023 – 7:08 AM
Week of Mental Health 2023
The European Mental Health Week will take place from 22 – 28 May 2023. In Amsterdam the theme is #dare to share and Thrive Amsterdam calls on young people to talk about emotions and share emotions. Recent research figures show that the number of young people with mental complaints is still large, even after corona. On Tuesday 23 May, the national campaign will be kicked off by State Secretary Maarten van Ooijen (VWS) at the ROC Top in Noord.
Talking about your mental health is normal
The Corona Health Monitor for Young Adults from 2022 showed that the mental health of young adults is vulnerable: six out of ten young adults in Amsterdam have psychological complaints, which is more often than the average in the Netherlands (60% versus 53%), but comparable to the percentages in the other large towns. Young adults in Amsterdam are also (very) often stressed, which is also more than average in the Netherlands (Amsterdam 57%, Netherlands 48%). More than half of Amsterdam’s young people experience mental complaints but do not talk about them. The goal of Mental Health Week is to get young people to share and talk, so that talking about mental health becomes the most normal thing in the world.
Alderman Scholtes (Public health and prevention): “Everyone has to deal with mental setbacks from time to time. What helps is if people can discuss this with each other in a familiar environment such as the neighbourhood, at school or at work. After all, making real contact with others and having a sense of belonging are proven protective factors when it comes to mental health. In addition, it helps to prevent the problems from getting worse. I therefore hope that the activities in this week will give many young people a push to discuss their problems.”
Flying squads
From 23 May to 26 May, so-called flying squads will be present at various locations in the city (e.g. at secondary vocational education schools, higher professional education schools and universities). These groups, consisting of young people who have their own story with mental challenges, will talk to other young people about their mental health. With the question: Do you dare to share how you feel?
Green
Especially for this week, the A’DAM Tower will turn green on Monday 22 May, the color of mental health. Can be seen from sunset, about 9:30 PM.
International initiative
Mental Health Week is a European initiative that draws attention to mental health. Thrive Amsterdam, housed at GGD Amsterdam, organizes activities in the city in collaboration with various organizations. She will soon present her new plans for the next 3 years for a resilient and resilient city.
See here for a complete overview of the activities during Mental Health Week.
Source: Municipality of Amsterdam