Many former expats describe repatriation as incredibly challenging. A new study has found that the Dutch have very high rates of depressive disorders compared to the rest of Europe. › Re-inventing yourself to "fit in" with a new culture We are based just outside The Hague in a town called Voorburg. I personally always have to chose between whether to spend the Christmas vacation with my family in Spain, in Germany, or with my partner's family in The Netherlands. Expats in the Netherlands. Image: OpenStax College/Wikimedia Commons/CC3.0. It sucks. Those not required to take out Zvw are: 1. children aged under 18, who are … Spotlight . Oisterwijk, Netherlands since October 2012. It is problematic for the Dutch government to plan their financial strategy when the Netherlands economy fluctuates on events in Athens and Frankfurt, just as it does on policy outcomes in The Hague.The reality is that the Netherlands depends on a European, and global … Expat depression is what it sounds like – feelings of severe and sustained despondency and dejection experienced while living abroad. That means that for every 100.000 years, more than 1.850 are lived suffering from depression. Seasonal depression in the Netherlands: The proper functioning of your hypothalamus helps you avoid getting SAD. But that was just the start of it. Depressive disorders are common mental disorders that occur in all types of people all over the world. According to the Take 5 campaign, one in four of us will suffer from some sort of mental health issue every year. I ask that you not misinterpret this as ingratitude nor dismiss me as yet another expat bitching about the healthcare system when I say this: in my experience, psychiatric care in the Netherlands is to a great extent unavailable and when available often counterproductive. But the picture is more complicated than it first appears. I offer also online sessions on Skype, Zoom and WhatsApp. As an expat, you will be able to find psychological help almost anywhere in the Netherlands Unfortunately, the treatment will often be oriented towards Dutch patients. A great deal also depends on the individual context. Japan has the least. We’ve compiled our own expat tips, advice and recommendations in various posts. The Netherlands is generous to its citizens and inhabitants with a welfare system I myself have benefited from. In such cases, it's no wonder that trying to blurt out even a few phrases can feel next to impossible. visit this page. Nearly 10 per cent of the total of what researchers called "years lived with disability" (YLDs) were due to suffering from depression. The partner that follows is referred to as a “trailing partner”. Making travelling difficult, if not impossible, the pandemic has caused people to drift apart, physically and emotionally. In comparison, Afghanistan has the highest rates, with over 4.800 depressed YLDs our of 100.000. Join Today (free) Join Expat Exchange to meet expats in your area or get advice before your move. Here is a selection of articles, news and features you may also like. As I read the post, I wondered how many expats suffered from depression or other mental health issues – and how many of them (us) ever talk about it. Finally, expats looking for jobs and homes in the Netherlands may well encounter discrimination with brokers often acquiescing to requests from clients; 10% of 620 human resources managers interviewed by recruitment agency Unique in early 2019 said they had denied an applicant an interview on the basis of a foreign-sounding name, while 40% occasionally refused an invitation for an … EXPAT COUNSELLOR T: 06 4802 7556: Greek and English-speaking expat counselor in The Hague with 15+ years assisting adults, teenagers and families in dealing with anxiety, depression, relationships, self-development and cultural acclimation. I live in South Holland with my husband and 3 year old daughter. Feeling overwhelmed by the constant adjustments that you might not have even taken into account before you made the move can take a toll on your mental and physical well-being. This is also prevalent in the expat community, who move to another country (usually unaccompanied by family) and they are forced to settle into a completely foreign world. Depression is described as an overwhelming feeling of sadness and hopelessness that can last for months or years. She explains that the initial lack of a social support structure can make a move challenging to deal with, leading to anxiety. ", According to Swinkels, Japan has such low rates of depression because "their culture requires that you should not be depressed.". Expat Guide to the Netherlands The low-lying, freedom-loving country. View More Articles about Repatriation. These imbalances in your body obviously do not let you function at your best. Excerpts from expat life in The Netherlands. For expats it can be hard to remain positive, considering they may not be able to be in touch with all their family, as they may be scattered across the globe. This could be because of the lack of sunlight during winter, and the long days … If you live far away from the equator, like all of us in the Netherlands, you could be affected by this disorder. HealthruTherapy is a psychology practice aimed at expats and English speaking individuals living in the Netherlands. Particularly during the first year of expat life, most people have at least some symptoms associated with culture shock and adjustment, including heightened levels of stress and anxiety. Receive the IamExpat Weekly and Special Offers from our Partners, For expats of all colours, shapes & sizes. Being an expat is not always easy. Join groups to connect with other exptas or locals. Similarly, routine screening using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is recommended in pregnant women in the United States and Australia. January 21, 2021 / Updated January 23, 2021 / By Jade. The Netherlands is a country in north-eastern Europe. We work in Amsterdam, Groningen, Delft and online. Three other Caribbean islands, Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius, also fall under Dutch sovereignty but are classed as special municipalities rather than constituent countries. Or you might see some people throwing themselves into all types of expat events and find yourself wondering, why can't I do that, too? Jan Swinkels, a psychiatrist and professor at the University of Amsterdam, said to the Volkskrant that people should not draw too many conclusions from the Netherlands' high score. The Netherlands: An Overview. We know that there is a huge problem with depression and isolation within the expat community. Hell, you don’t even need to be an expat. › Expat Mental Health: Depression - Part 2, Dutch government presents five-step plan for lifting lockdown, Coronavirus press conference: Some restrictions eased, curfew lifted, King’s Day 2021: 50 arrested in Amsterdam, parks closed across the Netherlands, Parents in the Netherlands to receive at least nine weeks of paid leave, Coronavirus press conference: Some measures likely to lift next week. This checklist gives great advice for preparing to go home starting a year before your move. As time progresses and you adapt to your new culture, these symptoms usually subside - to some degree. It's important to be aware of the differences between normal adjustment and culture shock and the signs of serious mental health disorders like depression. That post was viewed over and over and over. As the months went by I noticed something odd. The newly published article "Burden of Depressive Disorders by Country, Sex, Age, and Year" is based on the results of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010, and is considered the world's most comprehensive study of discomfort and death from disease. Join a sports club, find a new hobby, or if you … In general, expats have a tendency towards poorer mental health than people who never move. The Netherlands is not immune from financial strife in Greece, Spain, Italy and other crisis-hit European economies. HEALTHY MIND WORKS T: 06 4825 4245 In England, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is used consistently by different professionals, twice to three times in the first 6-8 months after childbirth. Major mental health problems facing expats. But at least we have each other. Sometimes we are all going to deal with depression. "It is mainly about perception," he said. Having little or no social support often further complicates the issue. 16: Life as a Brazilian Expat in the Netherlands This post contains affiliate links where I earn a … Alexandra is an Australian citizen and an experienced expat, having spent (quite a bit of) time in Asia before coming to the Netherlands a year ago. List a Property! This can be the result of the significant amount of stress and high demands placed on people who move abroad to live and work. Nearly 10 per cent of the total of what researchers called "years lived with disability" (YLDs) were due to suffering from depression. Sometimes life is just overwhelming and hard. However, the premise of widespread use of EPDS for screening is that … Overseas Properties. Where do you currently live and how did you come to be there? Couples being separated on different continents. Studies have shown expatriates may be at greater risk of mental health problems, often manifesting in the form of expat depression. But it felt nothing like how difficult it was after a year living abroad, away from friends and family. These are the most common causes of stress in expat marriages: Trailing Spouse Depression. In this video, I will be very honest about what I feel the difficulties of the expat life are. Excerpts from expat life in The Netherlands. More often than not, the move to a foreign country is a result of following an excellent career opportunity for one partner. There is a mandatory requirement for basic public health insurance (zorgverzekeringswet– Zvw) for all Dutch residents. Treating both students and adults using an integrative approach, making sure each treatment is individualised to each client’s needs. Here is a selection of articles, news and features you may also like. Depressive disorders are also a leading cause of the global disease burden and a contributor to suicide and ischemic heart disease. Inter-Being Psychologists is a small team of expat psychologists who offer psychotherapy, counselling, and coaching to expats, students, and couples. Advertisement . Dysthymia is a milder, chronic form of depression that lasts for at least two years. There's no cookie-cutter, "one-size fits all" method for overcoming these challenges, and what's easy for one person can be extremely difficult for another. Usually, it’s only a matter of time before expats experience some form of situational depression, anxiety, or the need to hide under their bed with a bottle of wine for days on end. On average, 15 percent of people in high-income countries reported having an episode, compared with 11 percent in low-income countries, according to the study, … Expat Therapy 4U is the result of 5 years’ experience running The International Psychology Clinic, the first private therapy service based in London specialized in multilingual and multicultural therapy. This month’s Expat Interview is with Eleanor McCallin who was the winner of the #HomeToUs photo competition. Prior to moving to Canada, I had struggled with homesickness when I first moved away from home to study in another city, Cape Town. People with dysthymia are often described as constantly unhappy. If you need support during a difficult moment in your life, you can contact me by e-mail or by phone 0031 (0)6-34222153 (from Tues to Fri 9:30AM – 7:00 PM / Sat 9:00 AM – 1:00PM) and share your experience. Grandparents not being able to visit or be visited by their children and grandchildren. My husband works for an international company and we were hoping for an assignment opportunity after we had our children. According to their findings, depression is increasing worldwide, with the number of years that people suffered from depression rising by over 37 per cent since 1990. People poured their hearts out in the comments section, it was shared and liked and viewed many times over. Where do you currently live and how did you come to be there? We’ve consulted experts on expat issues and topics that we … In the Netherlands, depression has a substantially higher share, accounting for It's FREE and takes 1 minute! We also assist employers who support their employees with psychological counselling or coaching. It's important to be aware of the differences between normal adjustment and culture shock and the signs of serious mental health disorders like depression. "Culture plays an important role. It is nevertheless quite a startling difference to the most recent Global Happiness Report, which found that the Netherlands was the fourth happiest nation. Receive the IamExpat Weekly and Special Offers from our Partners, For expats of all colours, shapes & sizes, Burden of Depressive Disorders by Country, Sex, Age, and Year. While occasionally feeling down and "blue" is normal for everyone, feeling depressed can be a sign of a more serious mental health issue. For more information, please The definition may be simple, but the nature of expat depression isn’t so cut and dry. Despite the differences in percentages, the researches made the point that by a margin of uncertainty, the high and low scoring countries do not differ significantly from the global average. What is Expat Depression? Next in the series This month’s expat interview comes from Farrah in The Netherlands. Headquartered in Germany, we thought that’s where his company would send us – but when a Tilburg, Netherlands … Wrong. Worldwide, only back and neck problems blight more years (14,8 per cent of YLDs). Although the Dutch generally speak excellent English, this means that there could be some communication issues between you and your treatment provider While many people have little or no difficulty adjusting to expat life and seem to embrace their adopted country with ease, others find the adjustment to certain aspects of expat life a real challenge - to say the least. Expat depression is more common for the accompanying partner, or trailing spouse, than it is for the working expat. You might know someone who's learned to speak fluent Dutch in three months, and you find yourself here two or three years later still unable to utter a simple dankjewel to the grocery store clerk. For many expats, and especially for some native English-speaking expats - you might be frustrated by well-meaning Dutch people who want to practice their English with you - or, on the flipside, place a tremendous amount of pressure on you to learn Dutch so you can "integrate." But the corona crisis took this to the next level. › Learning the language and adapting to what might seem like "strange" or unfamiliar social customs - certain traditions like the Dutch birthday circle come to mind as an example, › Leaving your family, friends and / or career behind and perhaps not being able to visit your home country as often as you would like As a nation, the Netherlands … This guide explains how expats can claim a tax exemption under the 30% ruling in the Netherlands. Factors can make expat life a real challenge, and not just for those who find it difficult to adapt, include: Some people with bipolar disorder have symptoms of mania or hypomania (a less intense form of mania) during the summer and spring months, and symptoms of depression during the autumn and winter months. For others, the winter time can be an even worse time as they may feel even more depressed when suffering from clinical depression… Expat life isn’t just about getting to travel to far off places and look good on social media – it’s a new life far away from your safety net. By clicking subscribe, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy. However, the stress of expat life can sometimes induce or further compound pre-existing mental health issues, like anxiety, panic disorder, eating disorders and depression. “There are a lot of new changes.”. Worldwide, only back and neck problems blight more years (14,8 per cent of YLDs). When expats move to the Netherlands, they’re often caught unawares by depressive symptoms, says Souren. The study, sponsored by the World Health Organization, found that 21 percent of people in France and 19.2 percent of people in the U.S. and 17,9 percent in the Netherlands reported having an extended period of depression within their lifetime. This is because expat life comes with obvious challenges to emotional and mental health. We are a gloomy people, but that does not mean that we need more help than the Germans or the Belgians. The platform is run by Dr Martina Paglia. So I wrote the post, titling it “Depression and expat life: something we don’t talk about enough”, and the response was incredible. The expat lifestyle has not always had the best reputation when it comes to family ties. It’s hard. She enjoys writing, reading... Dutch government presents five-step plan for lifting lockdown, Coronavirus press conference: Some restrictions eased, curfew lifted, King’s Day 2021: 50 arrested in Amsterdam, parks closed across the Netherlands, Parents in the Netherlands to receive at least nine weeks of paid leave, Dutch government to introduce new strategy to speed up vaccinations. In the Netherlands, depression has a substantially higher share, accounting for more than 16 per cent of YLDs. However, the stress of expat life can sometimes induce or further compound pre-existing mental health issues, like anxiety, panic disorder, eating disorders and depression. The Dutch 30% ruling explained Are you eligible for the Netherlands’ 30% ruling? Dealing with rejection - whether it occurs when trying to find a new job, issues related to school and academic performance, making new friends, finding housing or learning Dutch - is often a very real part of expat life. We take a multidisciplinary and culturally sensitive approach in our services, which are offered in several … Major depressive disorder (MDD, also known as clinical depression) is an episodic disorder with a chronic (long-term) outcome and increased risk of death. Mental healthcare in the Netherlands is more important than ever before, with more people coming forward to talk about their struggles with their own mental health. All residents and visitors in the Netherlands can access the healthcare service, provided they have health insurance. Book a free consultation session through the website. When given its full title, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the country also also has territory in the Caribbean - Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten. 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