News | RIVM

Persistent concerns about young adults’ mental health despite slight improvement

Only half of young adults rate their mental health as good. This emerges from the Public Health Monitor Young Adults2024, a large-scale survey conducted among over 135,000 16-to-25-year-olds in the Netherlands.

Young people contact GP more often due to suicidality

In the third quarter of 2024, young people (0–24 years) had 75% more contact with the GP because of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts than before the pandemic in 2019. The difference has grown compared to the previous quarter (increase of 75% v. 45%), based on primary care data.

People with post-COVID are less able to participate in society

Many people who report having long-term COVID-19 symptoms are unable to fully participate in society. This is a key finding from the twelfth quarterly research update from the Network for Health Research in Disasters (GOR Network).

Well-being should be considered from the start when formulating policy during pandemic, health emergency or other crisis

Monitoring well-being from the outset and throughout the duration of a pandemic, health emergency or other crisis provides helpful input in making policy choices.

Excise duty increase affects smokers: more people attempt to quit, but more people also purchase tobacco abroad

According to research by RIVM on the 2023 excise duty increase, the increased excise duty (tax) on tobacco products is having a noticeable impact on smokers' behaviour.

More unhealthy behaviour among young people; their health remains vulnerable

Fewer young people aged 12 to 16 are positive about their health than in previous years. In addition, their mental health has not recovered after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Solar panel recycling could be more sustainable

RIVM looked into ways being developed to reuse raw materials used in solar panels. The four ways described by RIVM in this report are more sustainable than how solar panels are currently recycled.

RIVM recommends a standardised design for e-cigarettes to reduce e-cigarette appeal

Features like a sleek design, technical add-ons such as Bluetooth, and ease of concealment are examples that make e-cigarettes attractive to young people, according to research by RIVM. That is why RIVM recommends policymakers to consider implementing a standardised design for e-cigarettes

Dutch consumers can eat healthier and more environmentally sustainable for the same amount of money

The Dutch diet can be healthier and more environmentally sustainable without costing consumers more money. This holds for all socio-economic groups in the Netherlands. This concludes Reina Vellinga (RIVM) in her doctoral thesis. Even with minor adjustments, our diet becomes much healthier and with less impact on the environment.

More than 3% of adults and 5% of young people have persistent symptoms after COVID-19

More than 3% of adults (aged 26+) reported having persistent long-term symptoms after an infection with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, sometimes lasting several years. This is also known as post-COVID or Long COVID. About 5% of young people aged 12–25 years are experiencing these symptoms.