The general practitioner mental health care assistant (POH-GGZ) conducted 6 percent more consultations last year than the year before. Long waiting lists at psychologists are a possible cause of this.
The number of visits to the POH-GGZ had already increased and seems to continue to grow. Per 1,000 inhabitants, the POH-GGZ was visited 178 times last year, writes the Nivel health institute in a report. In 2023 that was still 168 times.
Between 2020 and 2024, the number of consultations with the POH-GGZ increased by an average of 2 percent per year. In 2019, it was still 150 visits per 1,000 inhabitants.
People aged 18 to 44 visited the POH-GGZ the most in 2024. For that group, it was 256 visits per 1,000 inhabitants.
What does a POH-GGZ do?
A general practitioner mental health care assistant (POH-GGZ) works at a general practice. The POH-GGZ has knowledge of and experience in mental health care.
This allows people to ask questions about psychological care in an accessible way, without having to go directly to a psychologist.
The POH-GGZ can also provide short treatments of a number of conversations. In addition, the practice assistant can help in drawing up a treatment plan for psychological complaints.
Waiting times have been a headache for years
Nivel mentions several explanations for the increase. For example, the increased number of visits coincides with long waiting lists in mental health care. In addition, the health institute mentions concerns about social unrest, climate change and increasing inequality. The aftermath of the corona crisis can also play a role.
The long waiting times have been a headache for years. For example, therapists and patients, united in the Right to Mental Health Care Foundation, filed a lawsuit against the State in October last year. At that time, at least 100,000 people were on the waiting list for mental health care.
At least 60,000 people are waiting longer than the maximum waiting time of fourteen weeks. Waiting too long exacerbates a mental ailment, the General Court of Audit reported in 2020.