11/11/2021
Hello everyone!
I would like to take some minutes of your attention to read these following lines.
The Netherlands is a beautiful and societally organized country. Medical and mental health services are of excellent quality, especially for nationals and those individuals who mastered the relatively complex Dutch idiom.
Nevertheless, non-Dutch people and, in particular, international students seem to report often a certain dissatisfaction regarding the Dutch (mental) health system. Furthermore, the current Covid-19 pandemic does not certainly help the situation.
A recent survey conducted by Nuffic investigated the life and study experiences of international students during the Covid-19 pandemic. This study showed that a substantial number of international students report feelings of anxiety, loneliness, and dissatisfaction with social life. Furthermore, the study also showed that approximately 50% of international students in the Dutch higher education report dissatisfaction with their study experience before September 2020, in comparison to approximately 32% of international students reporting dissatisfaction with their study experience from September 2020 onward. For more information about this topic, do visit the following webpage: https://www.nuffic.nl/en/publications/experience-international-students-dutch-higher-education-institutions-during-covid-19.
Although it seems that the level of dissatisfaction regarding study experiences in the Dutch higher education among international students decreased over time, as Covid-19 protective measures were adopted (e.g. lockdown, online education, vaccination, etc.), mental health issues (mostly related to depression and anxiety) seem to have increased in both their incidence and severity [reference: Fried, E. I., Papanikolaou, F., & Epskamp, S. (2021). Mental health and social contact during the COVID-19 pandemic: An ecological momentary assessment study. Clinical Psychological Science, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026211017839].
Depression and anxiety are further promoted by the poorly handled situation of finding an accommodation in the Netherlands, for international students have a hard time finding readily available, financially affordable, and qualitatively decent accommodations.
As a Psychology student at Tilburg University, I had direct experiences of such mental health issues that doubtlessly modified my personal study experience and, more broadly, perception of life. Aside being a Psychology student on the verge of graduation, I am however also a trained clinician. Thus, going through such psychological issues was not as hard as it may be for other students.
Recently, it came to my attention that many international students have difficulty affording or reaching for psychological help. So, I decided to create this page to offer my professional services to students who are in need and cannot easily afford or even find professional psychological assistance.
If you want more information regarding the type of psychological support (assessment and treatment methods) and education I offer, or simply have some questions to pose, feel free to contact me privately on WhatsApp (number provided in this page), or message me here. You can also reach me via email ([email protected])!
If you are interested primarily (or only) on non-verbal communication, feel free to visit instead my Facebook group on non-verbal communication and facial expressions (https://www.facebook.com/groups/177457695649529) or contact me privately as well!
I would like to thank you all for these minutes of attention,
I wish you to spend a splendid rest of the day,
Baglini Leonardo
Analogic Analyst, Dynamic Hypnotherapist
