The Dutch government’s new mental health strategy includes plans to test an approach informed by England’s NHS Talking Therapies programme, with digital innovation, outcomes measurement and international collaboration playing important roles.
The Dutch government has outlined a new direction for mental health and mental healthcare, including a proposal to test data-driven treatment for people with less complex mental health needs.
Presented on 2 October 2026, the government’s future strategy for mental health and mental healthcare (in Dutch) addresses pressures on mental health services and opportunities to improve access to appropriate support.
The accompanying policy letter (in Dutch) includes a proposed practical test of a treatment approach aligned with NHS Talking Therapies in England.
Drawing on International Experience
NHS Talking Therapies has developed over two decades into an established model for delivering evidence-based psychological therapies, supported by stepped or stratified care pathways and routine outcomes measurement.
The programme treats approximately 670,000 people annually in England, according to figures shared by Ross O’Brien, UK-based digital mental health leader and Co-Founder of MindPowrr. Its systematic collection of treatment outcomes provides a substantial evidence base for evaluating effectiveness and improving services.
Professor David Clark, a principal architect of NHS Talking Therapies, sees an opportunity for the Netherlands to benefit from the UK’s implementation experience.
As quoted by O’Brien:
“Starting your programme later than the UK is a great advantage. You can build on our successes while learning from our difficulties.”
Exploring Digital-First Implementation
MindPowrr is among the organisations exploring how the Talking Therapies model could be adapted for the Dutch healthcare system.
In a recent LinkedIn post responding to the government announcement, Ross O’Brien described the development of MindPowrr Talking Therapies NL, a digital-first model being designed with input from experts involved in the original UK programme.
The proposed approach combines evidence-based treatment pathways with digital tools to support timely access, appropriate treatment intensity and consistent monitoring of clinical outcomes.
Professor Clark, quoted by O’Brien, described the potential of this approach:
“The MindPowrr approach makes maximal use of digital to help ensure people quickly get to the right treatment, at the right dosage, with outcomes carefully monitored and reported.”
An important consideration is how outcomes are defined and measured consistently, including improvements in symptoms and people’s ability to participate in everyday life.
O’Brien also highlighted MindPowrr’s involvement of Dutch mental health advocacy organisation MIND in the initiative, recognising the role of lived experience in shaping services and evaluating their effectiveness.
Implications for the Global Digital Mental Health Community
The eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC) has expressed support for the direction of MindPowrr Talking Therapies NL, recognising the potential to combine established clinical approaches with digital-first and AI-enabled innovation.
The developments in the Netherlands raise important questions for health systems internationally: how can established models be adapted to different service environments, how should treatment outcomes be measured, and what infrastructure and workforce capabilities are needed to support implementation?
For eMHIC’s global community, the proposed Dutch test offers an opportunity to follow how international learning, clinical evidence, lived experience and digital innovation can inform the development of accessible, effective and person-centred mental healthcare.
The next stage will be to determine how an approach inspired by NHS Talking Therapies can operate within the Dutch healthcare system and what can be learned from its practical implementation.
