A recent survey conducted by the Netherlands-based Yes We Can Clinics (YWCC) has revealed that 87% of its young patients have successfully returned to work or education following its intensive mental health treatment programme. The findings offer a hopeful perspective on the impact of targeted clinical support in tackling mental health challenges among young people.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1 in 8 people globally suffers from a mental health disorder, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, or behavioural issues. Mental health struggles not only disrupt the lives of those directly affected but also lead to significant societal and economic consequences, particularly in the workplace and education.

The WHO estimates that 12 billion workdays are lost annually due to mental health-related absences, resulting in a staggering $1 trillion in lost productivity worldwide. In the UK, poor mental health costs employers between £42 and £45 billion annually, with 18 million workdays lost to absenteeism. Schools are not immune to the crisis either: in a 2021 survey conducted by the mental health charity Mind, 68% of nearly 2,900 young people reported missing school due to mental health struggles.

YWCC aims to address these challenges with a 10-week clinical programme for individuals aged 13 to 27. The programme combines one-on-one and group therapy with innovative approaches such as outdoor sports, psychoeducation, and creative therapies. A mandatory family programme ensures that parents are actively involved in supporting their child’s recovery.

In its 2023 survey of 750 former patients, YWCC found that 82% of respondents had resumed work or education after treatment, with an additional 5% actively preparing to do so. The clinic’s holistic approach has also led to broader improvements in patients’ quality of life and support systems.

Over a third of participants (35%) reported a significant increase in their ability to enjoy life, while nearly 4 in 10 (39%) said they were moderately capable of doing so. Encouragingly, only 4% of respondents said they were entirely unable to enjoy life post-treatment.

A sense of safety and comfort in daily life also improved for many patients, with 74% indicating they felt safer and more at ease after completing the programme. Just 1% reported feeling unsafe, underscoring the effectiveness of the clinic’s interventions.

Support networks have similarly strengthened, with 80% of participants noting significant improvements in their relationships with family and friends. However, 19% of respondents said they still experienced limited or no support, highlighting the ongoing challenges some face even after clinical treatment.

While the outcomes are largely positive, the survey acknowledged that relapses remain a reality for some patients. Nearly 60% of respondents reported maintaining recovery without relapse, while 28% experienced a relapse but resumed their recovery journey with additional support. Unfortunately, 14% were still struggling with relapse at the time of the survey.

Jan Willem Poot, founder of YWCC, emphasised the importance of these findings: “We are deeply humbled and grateful for the trust that parents and adolescents have placed in us. The outcomes of our recent research, showing that 87% of our former patients have successfully returned to work or study, fill us with pride. The fact that 74% of our patients don’t require any specialist care anymore after treatment at YWCC motivates us to keep on going and to help more patients and their families from all over the world.”

But Poot also acknowledged the challenges ahead, particularly for the 8% who have not reintegrated into work or education and the 14% experiencing relapse. “These patients are always at the forefront of our minds as we continually review and improve our methods,” he said, adding that YWCC is exploring advancements in nutrition, artificial intelligence, and collaborations with Dutch universities to enhance its treatment programmes.

YWCC’s model offers a potential blueprint for addressing the mental health crisis among young people. With effective, targeted support, it is possible to improve lives and reduce the economic and social burden of mental health challenges on a global scale.