Experts: Mental health crisis deepens among young women in Netherlands
Mental health problems among girls and young women in the Netherlands have increased sharply, NU.nl reports. Experts point to mounting performance pressure, a more complex society, and the harmful effects of repeatedly dwelling on distress with peers online.
The CBS has previously reported that about one-quarter of women ages 18 to 25 report mental health problems, while 43 percent of girls in secondary education experience emotional difficulties. Emergency departments now see 50 percent more girls and young women following self-harm or suicide attempts than a decade ago. The Covid-19 pandemic caused a surge in mental health issues that never returned to pre-pandemic levels, although experts stress that most girls are still doing well.
Robert Vermeiren, a professor of child and adolescent psychiatry, said girls and young women are struggling in what the Dutch Council for Public Health and Society has called a “hypernervous society,” marked by excessive performance pressure, acceleration, and individualism.
“Everyone is expected to get the best out of themselves nowadays, and everything has to happen faster, so we are in a rat race that nobody can win,” Vermeiren told NU.nl.
“And society revolves much more around ‘me.’” Teenagers who are still developing their identities leave the protection of family and school and enter a demanding society in which people are expected to manage much more on their own, he said. “A growing group of young people is not yet ready for that.”
Maryke Geerdink, a clinical psychologist and care manager at 113 Suicide Prevention, said the world has become more complicated.
“Just look at the enormous density of information on social media. Wars have always existed, but now you see people suffering in real time and in full color on your screen. By taking time to reflect on something, you process it. But there is no longer time for that, because everything keeps coming at you continuously,” she told the newspaper.
Vermeiren also said children are being raised in a more protective way and with less independence than previous generations, making setbacks harder to handle.
Although boys and men are affected by many of the same factors, mental health indicators have worsened faster among girls and young women. Vermeiren noted that girls report suicidal thoughts more often, but boys and young men still die by suicide more frequently.
“Boys are still very much raised with ideas about ‘being tough’ and ‘hiding emotions,’” he said. “Maybe boys feel the despair but do not express it — until they ‘suddenly’ die by suicide.”
Geerdink said more research is needed into the differences between the sexes. One possible risk factor among girls and young women is “co-rumination,” or repeatedly discussing negative emotions online.
“Talking is generally a very good coping strategy,” Geerdink said. “If you chew your food properly, you swallow it and move on. But co-rumination is endlessly ‘chewing over’ your misery.”
“There are groups of girls who constantly seek each other out online, repeatedly share their negative feelings, and recognize themselves in each other. They often receive appreciation from others for doing so. That appreciation makes them vulnerable, because recovering from those emotions can then feel like a loss.”
Saskia Mérelle, lead researcher at 113 Suicide Prevention, said 86 percent of young women who died by suicide knew someone else who had been dealing with suicidal behavior. “They can become trapped in online communities where suicidal behavior is heavily normalized and even encouraged,” she told NU.nl.
Geerdink said adults also need to learn how to start conversations about mental health. Teachers, youth doctors, and sports coaches can all play a role, she said, and regular check-ins may provide relief and create space for solutions.
She urged people to trust their instincts if they are worried about a young person. “Even if it is a boy who jokingly says he might as well end his life, say, 'It was a joke, but I’m still curious …’ And keep asking. Keep reaching out, keep showing that you are there for that person,” Geerdink said.
