Tilburg University (TiU), University of Groningen (RUG), Leiden University (LEI), Maastricht University (UM), and the University of Amsterdam (UvA) are working on this theme. The theme coordinator is prof. dr. Tom Smeets (TiU).
From research to impact: accessible and effective mental health care for everyone
Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and addiction cause profound and long-lasting personal suffering and have a significant social impact, including long-term sick leave and considerable healthcare costs. Approximately one in four people in the Netherlands experience a mental health issue each year, and more than 50% will experience one at some point in their lives. Despite these stark figures, effective and accessible mental health care is still far from a given: many people receive no or insufficient help, existing therapies do not work sufficiently for everyone, and even after successful treatment, there is a high rate of relapse. Mental health conditions are also complex: they are influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors and often occur in combination with each other, such as anxiety disorders with depression or personality disorders with depression or PTSD.
Within this research theme of Social Sciences, we focus on deepening scientific knowledge about the mechanisms underlying changes in mental health—both from mental well-being to mental illness and from mental suffering to sustainable recovery. This research is crucial for identifying mental health problems earlier, understanding them better, and treating them more effectively.
In short, investing in research into mental disorders is both a human necessity and a social responsibility. With these efforts, we are working towards a society in which mental health receives sufficient attention alongside physical health and in which effective and accessible care is available to everyone.
Research approach
Five universities, each with their own expertise and vision, are collaborating within this sector theme: the University of Amsterdam, Leiden University, Tilburg University, Maastricht University, and the University of Groningen. This multidisciplinary collaboration enables us to tackle complex issues from different angles and increase the impact of our research.
The collaboration is organized through local teams at each participating university, often consisting of university lecturers, postdocs, and (junior) researchers with expertise in this theme. These teams are multidisciplinary in nature, as collaboration between disciplines such as psychology, neuroscience, sociology, communication sciences, and methodology enables us to better identify the underlying mechanisms of mental disorders.
Each local team is led by a scientific coordinator. In addition, there is a national coordinator who promotes coordination and collaboration between the universities, with the aim of developing a joint, interdisciplinary research and education program that is in line with the broader objectives of the Social Sciences sector plan.
With this multidisciplinary and interuniversity research community, we focus on innovative approaches such as:
- How can we develop better signaling systems to recognize mental disorders at an early stage, including in children, in order to take preventive action?
- How do the various risk mechanisms and protective factors at multiple levels (such as affective, cognitive, social, and physical factors within individuals, relationships, and social networks) contribute, individually and in interaction with each other, to the development and persistence of mental disorders?
- How can we make optimal use of insights into signals and mechanisms to improve psychological treatments by striving for more personalized approaches that better meet the needs of clinical practice?
- How can we make Dutch mental health care more accessible by developing more personalized and low-threshold (e-health) treatment methods that also offer opportunities for self-monitoring and strengthening self-management?
By answering these questions, we aim to develop refined theoretical models and innovative methodologies that have both scientific and societal impact. Scientifically, our work contributes to a better understanding of transitions in mental health; in practice, it helps to develop new and more effective preventive treatments and thus reduce the societal burden of disease.
Education as a bridge between knowledge and practice
The knowledge gained from this research into mental disorders is actively embedded in existing education and serves as a driving force for the development of new interdisciplinary and socially driven education. This is essential to equip future professionals—from psychologists to healthcare providers and policymakers—with the most up-to-date insights into the causes, diagnosis, and effective treatment methods for mental disorders.
By training students from different fields of study in scientifically based approaches to mental health at an early stage, we not only improve the quality of care, but also contribute to a society in which people are more likely to seek help and feel comfortable doing so, and in which openness about mental health issues becomes the norm. In this way, our education on mental health disorders directly contributes to a healthier and more resilient society.