The Netherlands - The Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) has launched the Strengthening Agenda for Menta…

The Netherlands - The Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) has launched the Strengthening Agenda for Mental Health & Mental Healthcare (Versterkingsagenda Mentale gezondheid & ggz), an action-oriented plan to improve timely access to support and reduce pressure on specialized mental healthcare What makes this agenda truly meaningful is its explicit recognition of the value of lived experience. Organizations like MIND and their partners bring the voices of people with firsthand experience into the heart of policy and practice, helping to bridge gaps between prevention, support, and care Whether it’s reducing waiting times, providing continuity after treatment, or creating low-threshold spaces for young people, experts by experience play a vital role in designing solutions that actually work “Support where needed, care where appropriate.” This shift calls for a culture where professional and experiential knowledge reinforce one another, in policy, practice, and community life As a network built on lived experience, we wholeheartedly welcome this approach. It’s time to work together toward a stronger, more inclusive mental health system