Cities: more “disturbed” people on street after mental health cuts

Ninety percent of Dutch municipalities noticed an increase in reports about disturbed people over the past five years. In 140 municipalities, the number of reports doubled between 2011 and 2015, according to figures NU received from the police. Last year the police attributed the increase in reports to cuts in mental healthcare. An increasing number of people have to be treated at home due to lack of capacity in mental healthcare. Medium sized cities in particular saw a strong increase in reports relating to people struggling with mental health problems. In Assen, for example, the number of reports increased from 125 in 2011 to 589 last year. Only 39 municipalities saw the number of reports decrease over the past five years. Heerlen saw the biggest decrease with 29.1 percent.