Waiting for psychological help is rarely neutral

With physical complaints, fast treatment is taken for granted. With mental complaints, we wait surprisingly often. Until symptoms become more severe. Until functioning visibly declines. Until someone calls in sick. And then, sometimes, another waiting period begins before appropriate psychological help becomes available.

That is strange, because especially with mental health problems, early and appropriate intervention can prevent symptoms from escalating further. Research into depression, for example, shows that a shorter period between the onset of symptoms and treatment is associated with a greater chance of recovery and a better response to treatment.

Not every stress-related complaint requires a psychologist. But when someone clearly needs help, waiting for months is rarely desirable.

Problems often grow while someone is still working

Mental complaints usually do not begin with absence. An employee can keep functioning for weeks or months while concentration, energy, sleep and motivation slowly decline. We often call this presenteeism: someone is present, but no longer performing at their normal level.

And it is precisely during this period that an important opportunity lies. Because the sooner it is recognised that someone is beginning to struggle, the sooner it is possible to look at what is needed. Sometimes a conversation is enough. Sometimes coaching. Sometimes a short-term psychological intervention. And sometimes specialist treatment is needed. The core principle is: do not wait until someone has dropped out before help becomes available.

And that is exactly where the Dutch healthcare system struggles

Waiting times within mental healthcare have been a problem for years. In October 2024, there were almost 109,000 waiting places for mental healthcare in the Netherlands. In more than 57% of cases, waiting lasted longer than the agreed maximum norm of 14 weeks. For certain specialist issues, such as trauma, eating disorders and personality problems, average waiting times rise to around 25 weeks.

That means someone who recognises today that they need help may have to keep functioning for months with the same symptoms.

For children and young people, waiting may be even more disruptive

Long waiting times are also a persistent problem in youth care. And when a child struggles, it rarely affects only the child. Parents worry, sleep poorly, arrange appointments and try to keep doing their jobs at the same time. A problem within the family therefore quickly becomes a problem at work too.

That is precisely why supporting only the employee is sometimes not enough.

Why would an employer offer fast psychological help?

Because mental health does not stop at the company front door. An employee with anxiety, low mood, grief, stress or problems at home carries that strain into work. And vice versa.

When an employer makes fast access to psychological support possible, there is an opportunity to act earlier. Not only when someone drops out. But before that. This can contribute to earlier recovery, less escalation of symptoms, preserved functioning, less presenteeism, potentially less or shorter absence, and support when problems within the family put pressure on the employee.

Not every employee needs treatment. But make help available

Prevention does not mean turning every employee into a patient. On the contrary. It means trying to recognise when someone needs support, and then preventing that person from having to wait for months.

The ideal sequence is actually very logical: detect early → assess quickly → provide appropriate support → scale up when needed. Instead of: symptoms → waiting → getting worse → absence → treatment.

Direct access to psychological help is more than a perk

It can be tempting to classify psychological support under “employee benefits.” But in fact it is about something more fundamental. About ensuring that manageable problems do not unnecessarily become big problems. About helping employees keep functioning well. And about offering support when someone themselves — or someone in their family — needs psychological help.

Science cannot promise that every early intervention will prevent later absence. But there is a strong rationale for not waiting unnecessarily when appropriate help is needed. And that is exactly where employers can make a difference. Not by replacing mental healthcare. But by ensuring that an employee does not first have to reach breaking point before help is available.

Not sure whether your situation belongs here? That doubt is reason enough to get in touch. You can ask for help yourself, or first read which treatments we offer.

Sources include WHO, IGJ, Rijksoverheid and scientific meta-analyses.