This month marks the official transition of DepressieNet into a foundation. This step makes it possible to further expand activities and achieve greater impact for people with depression. The mission of this nationwide collaboration is to tangibly improve the perspective and prospects of those affected by depression.

National Network for Better Care

On 1 September 2025, DepressieNet was launched with support from the Dutch Brain Foundation (Hersenstichting). It is not a new layer in healthcare, but a platform that brings together existing and new initiatives around depression care. In this way, there is more coherence between projects, and people and expertise are brought together. Those involved include clinicians, researchers, healthcare organisations, and experts by experience.

Tackling Fragmentation and Waiting Times

Many people with depression still experience long waiting times, regional differences, and a lack of overview. DepressieNet aims to address these problems by sharing knowledge, strengthening initiatives, and promoting collaboration throughout the entire care chain. The focus is on:

• Faster and more appropriate treatments,
• Greater coherence between care and research,
• Access to up-to-date and reliable information,
• Less relapse and improved quality of life.

Regions Taking Action

Projects have now been launched in the regions of Nijmegen, Groningen, and North Holland/Flevoland to concretely improve depression care. The initiative has been made possible in part thanks to the efforts of Christiaan Vinkers (psychiatrist and professor at GGZ inGeest and Amsterdam UMC) and Jeanine Kamphuis (psychiatrist and senior researcher at UMCG), both board members of DepressieNet.

Want to know more? More information can be found at www.depressienet.nl and via the DepressieNet LinkedIn page.