Between registration and treatment
About waiting times in mental health care and the consequences of waiting
The fact that newspapers and television constantly report on this issue says something about the scale of the problem. Waiting times in mental health care have been a topic of public concern for years. Figures, analyses and personal stories regularly appear that show how great the gap has become between asking for help and receiving help. A recent article in De Telegraaf described this gap as distressing. For many people, that word fits in perfectly with their own experience.
Those who register with mental health services rarely do so lightly. Often, this is preceded by a long period during which someone tries to keep functioning, puts the signs into perspective or tells themselves that things will improve on their own. Registration marks a turning point. It is a declaration that the burden can no longer be borne alone.
Then comes the waiting.
This waiting period takes place in everyday life. Work, relationships and responsibilities continue. Complaints remain. The step towards care has been taken, but the care itself is still pending. This tension demands a lot from people who are already living on the edge.
What the standards indicate and what the figures show
In the Netherlands, agreements exist regarding acceptable waiting times in mental health care. These so-called Treek standards describe what is considered reasonable. For an initial consultation, the maximum waiting time is four weeks. For the start of treatment, it is ten weeks. Together, they form a total standard of fourteen weeks.
Available figures show that these standards are being systematically exceeded. Data from the RIVM and VZinfo show that waiting times are increasing, particularly within specialist mental healthcare. De Nederlandse GGZ has also been pointing this out for some time. In basic mental healthcare, average waiting times often vary between twelve and nineteen weeks. In specialist mental healthcare, these averages rise to fifteen to sometimes twenty-eight weeks or more, depending on the diagnosis and region.
These figures recur time and again. They are no longer an exception, but a permanent feature of the healthcare landscape.
Differences by diagnosis and by region
Waiting times do not present a clear picture. The length of the wait varies depending on the type of complaint, the healthcare provider and the location. People with depressive symptoms follow different pathways than people with anxiety disorders or more complex problems. Regional differences also play a role.
In some areas, alternatives are limited and pressure is high. In other regions, there is greater diversity among providers. Healthcare institutions are increasingly publishing their waiting times publicly. Government agencies and industry organisations are compiling this data on national platforms.
This transparency facilitates comparison and orientation. The experience of waiting itself remains largely unchanged.
What waiting does to people
Waiting is not a neutral state. For many people, it means that symptoms persist without professional guidance. Thoughts keep repeating themselves. Restlessness remains. Coping abilities come under pressure, making daily functioning more difficult.
Some people become tired or lose motivation. Others notice that their symptoms increase in intensity, which can later lead to a more intensive treatment programme. The period between registration and treatment is therefore an essential part of the care process.
Mental health care professionals strive daily to meet people's needs, but increasingly they are forced to operate within constraints that they themselves did not set. This causes friction.
What people can do in the meantime
While waiting, people often feel the need for reassurance. Practical steps can help to maintain an overview. Asking specific questions to the healthcare provider can provide insight into differences between locations or processes. Contacting the health insurer is also an option. Health insurers have a duty of care and can mediate when waiting times exceed the established standards.
In addition, there are national reporting centres where waiting times are published. These platforms provide an overview and support in making decisions. They do not eliminate the wait.
During that waiting period, people look for ways to keep going.
Space within the waiting period
In addition to practical steps, many people are looking for ways to stay in control. Structure in the day, exercise, talking to others and paying attention to the body are small forms of self-care that contribute to stability.
Some people also look for natural support during this phase. Within this broader landscape, microdosing is sometimes mentioned. This involves very small amounts of magic truffles, a natural product that consists of a combination of different substances.
Magic truffles cannot be reduced to a single component. The interaction of substances, often referred to as the entourage effect, causes experiences to unfold gradually. The experience is mild in nature and requires perception rather than expectation.
Microdosing requires care and information. It is not a substitute for professional mental health care. For some people, it is a suitable experience during a period of waiting.
Waiting as a phase
Perhaps it helps to view the waiting period not merely as a delay, but as a transitional phase. Approaching it in this manner may provide you with some perspective.
Waiting times in mental health care remain a social issue. Governments, healthcare organisations and insurers publish figures and seek solutions. Meanwhile, people wait.
During this period, the question arises as to how care, self-knowledge and support can coexist. Professional mental health care remains essential. Diagnosis and treatment require expertise.
At the same time, there is space in which people themselves, with attention and without high expectations, can explore what helps them get through this phase.
For those who are looking, there are various possibilities.
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