In June 2025, there was a decrease in the percentage of adults that feel happy most of the time. However, mental well-being remained stable and confidence in the future increased. These findings are from the sixteenth quarterly survey. The results of this study are part of Health Research for COVID-19.
The Network for Health Research in Disasters (GOR Network) publishes an update twice a year on this page, summarising results about adults from survey research and data from primary care providers. The results about young people are published in quarterly updates. The aim of this study is to provide information to municipalities, provinces and the national government of the Netherlands to assist them in formulating health policy, to facilitate better pandemic preparedness and equip them to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Summary of research round 16, June 2025
Mental well-being remains stable, despite decrease in happiness
Compared to December 2024, there was a decrease in June 2025 in the percentage of adults that feel happy most of the time, dropping from 83% to 80%. Despite that, mental well-being among adults remained high on average (74%). Loneliness (42%) and stress (25%) also remained the same. The percentage of serious thoughts about suicide even decreased slightly, from 9% to 8%.
More confidence in the future, but more concerns as well
The percentage of adults who feel confident about the future rose from 41% to 43% between December 2024 and June 2025. Adults also have many concerns about various topics. The percentage of adults who are concerned increased regarding all the topics covered in the survey, but the largest increase in concern was seen in relation to world politics, inflation, the housing market and war.
Social acknowledgement of post-COVID
Adults who had post-COVID or had recovered from post-COVID did not experience strong social acknowledgement of their situation. For example, 49% agreed with the statement that others were unable to really understand what they are or were going through. Nevertheless, 69% felt that others showed enough sympathy and 61% indicated friends, specifically, felt sympathy for what happened to them. On average, adults with post-COVID agree that their family acknowledge what they are or were going through. While 67% felt that their family showed understanding for their situation or had done so in the past, 30% held the opinion that their family underestimated their experiences.
Increase in GP visits related to fatigue and feelings of anxiety
In the first half of 2025, adults were more likely to visit the GP due to fatigue. The number of GP contacts related to this topic was 4% higher in the first quarter and 10% in the second quarter than in the same periods in 2019. There was also a 27% increase in adults visiting the GP for memory and concentration problems, compared to the same period in 2019. These percentages were also higher in 2023 (+23%) and 2024 (+24%) than in 2019, which means that the number of GP consultations has increased and remains higher than before the pandemic.