'Important input for policymakers'"Project manager, Franz Trautmann, explains that this study has yielded a wealth of information about the production, trafficking and sale of drugs, and about the impact of government policy. It transpires that the Dutch policy is reasonably on track, with its pragmatic approach to the drugs problem."
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'Investing in more intensive knowledge exchange'"According to senior researcher Jolanda Meeuwissen, the WHO report shows that the quality of care received by European citizens is related to a country’s health care budget and its economic circumstances. The aim of the current follow-up project is to identify which improvements to mental health care in Europe are desirable and possible. This knowledge will also be of benefit to the Netherlands. "
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'Preliminary results are encouraging'"Sonja van Rooijen, project manager of the Care for Better Health projects claims the initial results show that the improvement projects are making a contribution to better quality of life. In the Interference Care project, over a third of the clients with chronic psychiatric problems experienced an improvement in their financial situation, living circumstances and daily occupation. And these are the very areas in which serious problems tend to be found. "
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'Promising interventions should be examined more thoroughly!'"Harry Michon, [programme coordinator??] points out it is remarkable how much research has been initiated in the area of rehabilitation during the past ten years. It is to be hoped that the accumulated knowledge will be used in research on and the further development of promising interventions. This is important to provide targeted support for people with serious mental health issues in finding a future perspective."
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'Lifestyle disease in poor population groups'"According to psychiatrist Christina van der Feltz, programme head of Diagnostics and Treatment and Chairperson of the AIMPH Working Group on Treatment, diabetes appears at face value to be a typically western illness that is directly linked to a culture of overeating and a high fat diet. Paradoxically, however, this illness chiefly affects poorer groups, as a consequence of their lifestyle. They have an unhealthy diet and take insufficient exercise, and have such difficulty in keeping their heads above water, that a healthy lifestyle is not really an option for them."
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'Guidelines essential to ensure good health care'"Senior researcher, Harriët van Wetten, explains that in guideline development the primary focus is on health care professionals, helping them to make well-considered and professional decisions together with their client. Undoubtedly this support will lead to better health care for clients, which is what it’s all about."
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'Targeted support is badly needed'"Project coordinator Peter van Splunteren explains that on account of their disorder, people with schizophrenia can lose everything. Furthermore they are dependent on medication, which can have annoying and even drastic side-effects. He hopes to be able to offer this client group better support with this project, helping them to function better in society. "
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'What kind of misery is ‘normal'?'"Is it the responsibility of the GGZ to seek happiness for people? Senior researcher, Frank van Hoof, believes this question will be heard increasingly frequently. Is the role of the mental health services to deal with all the unhappiness in society? Or should we prioritize help for people with more serious and intractable mental problems? To translate this into policy options, the question is: do we invest in further expansion of ‘lightweight’ mental health services, or in improving the quality of ‘heavy duty’ care?"
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'Clients acquire greater say with this instrument'"Senior researcher, Bob van Wijngaarden explains that clients can use the CQ index to rate the professional manner they encountered, for example, and whether they experienced their care to be qualitatively satisfactory. This will lead to further improvements in the care provided, with both client and health professionals jointly agreeing on which treatment is best. "
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'Ever more dementia care at home'"According to Anne Margriet Pot, head of the Programme on Ageing the rapid rise in the number of dementia sufferers means that more often they will have to be cared for at home. It is therefore important to invest in the mental resilience of informal carers and help them to cope. It is hoped that the new online course will make some contribution to this goal. "
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'Much appreciation for practical tips'"According to Rianne van der Zanden, researcher and project manager, the website receives a lot of positive feedback. Parents take more pleasure in parenting, and as a result they can enjoy their children more. The website is making a direct contribution to the happiness of these parents and their children."
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'Mental Fitness: no panacea'"Project Manager, Heleen Riper believes that mental fitness is something you mainly create yourself. Whether you are in good health or not, it is something everyone has to invest in. This is why ‘Mental Fitness’ is no panacea, but offers ways to help bring wellbeing a step closer. "
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'The risks of alcohol are now on the agenda everywhere'"According to Victor Everhardt, Chairman of the Alcohol and Drugs Centre, these prevention projects are at the interface of science, society and politics. All these facets have been dealt with in the Alcohol and Parenting campaign. As a result, many parents have initiated conversations with their children about alcohol. If young people learn to behave more sensibly with alcohol as a result, we will have happier families."
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'Mental resilience gaining in importance'"According to Anke Wammes, communications advisor with the Trimbos Institute and project initiator, Roes has been able to show young people that setting your own standards for alcohol and drugs does not mean you are a loser. Hopefully the series has been able to make a contribution to the mental resilience of youngsters who are exposed to peer pressure. "
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'Realistic evaluation of risks'"Margriet van Laar, programme head of Drug Monitoring explains that thanks to a strong tradition of monitoring in the Netherlands, realistic evaluation of risks can be made. This is particularly important in the area of drugs. From a political point of view, drug use is, after all, an emotionally charged topic, particularly in a European context. It is therefore to be hoped that this research will contribute to meaningful political debate and balanced decision making. "
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'Under-treatment of ADHD sufferers is appaling'"Under-treatment of ADHD sufferers is appalling", According to Ron de Graaf , joint project manager of the WHO research in the Netherlands, only 2 % ADHD sufferers receive any form of treatment. If these research results can change this situation, then that is a bonus: both for people with ADHD who are not yet receiving treatment, and for their employers and colleagues. "
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'Keep alcohol prevention linked to parenting!'"Karin Monshouwer, project manager of the National School Survey, asserts that much remains to be done in the area of prevention and raising parental awareness. The research shows that 90% of fifteen-year olds have already taken alcohol, while it is known that alcohol is very damaging to brain development."
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