In her letter, the Queen, herself the mother of three young daughters, urges young people that their lives do not always have to be rosy and sunny. “Not every day has to be a 10. Sometimes your expectation does not come true. And that’s okay. We all have. After all, life never goes in a straight line.’
You can read the Queen’s complete letter at the bottom of this article.
These are comforting words for a group of young people who are currently suffering from life, for example due to pressure to perform, fear of a bad image or fear of the future. As honorary president of Mind us, a foundation that wants young people to get a grip on their mental health, Queen Máxima calls it ‘crucial’ that the environment takes action quickly if things threaten to go wrong.
‘The sooner we pick up signals, the greater the chance that young people will regain their mental resilience before problems become too big’, according to the Majesty. ‘After all, mental problems often arise at a young age.’
In the letter she also addresses parents and all other role models in the environment of young people in need. “You can be a good example by speaking honestly about your own feelings. Help our young people on their way. Form a support network together and help young people learn to deal with adversity, sadness and stress.’
The Queen knows what she is talking about: her youngest sister took her own life in 2018 at the age of 33. She suffered from depression. “Inés was ill and could not heal,” Máxima said at the time. “Our only consolation is that she has finally found peace.”
In the letter, which the Queen wrote as part of a journalistic production today about the mental state of young people, Máxima deeply sympathizes with young people who are having a hard time mentally. ‘In all the conversations I have with you young people, I hear and see your strength, vulnerability and openness.’
Read the Queen’s letter below:
You are not alone
Study after study reveals disturbing figures about the mental health of our young people. Young people experience an increasing pressure to perform. Fear of failure, stress, depressive symptoms and even suicide; they are unfortunately increasing. And concerns about (study) debts, a housing shortage or the climate crisis make it difficult for many young people to be hopeful about the future.
In March we launched a new foundation, MIND Us, of which I am honorary president. MIND Us gives all young people the opportunity to develop resiliently. This is only possible if they get a grip on their mental health and know how to find help when needed. Fortunately, a lot is already happening. Together with young people, MIND Us looks at what is already there and what has an effect. Then we will connect and distribute what works well. In doing so, we connect with the living environment of the young people themselves; their school or college, their neighborhood with sports clubs and associations and of course social media.
In any case, we know for sure that acting quickly is crucial. The sooner we pick up signals, the greater the chance that young people will regain their mental resilience before problems become too big. Mental problems often arise at a young age. Three quarters develop before the age of 25 and half even before the age of 15.
I keep saying to the young people: talk talk talk. That really helps. Share your feelings with friends, your parents or other trusted people close to you. Let them know if you are doing well and especially if things are not going well, tell them. Because you are not alone. Not every day has to be a ten. Not everything you do has to work. You don’t always have to be happy. Sometimes a day is just less fun. Sometimes your expectation does not come true. And that’s okay. We all have. After all, life never goes in a straight line.
I say to all parents, teachers, trainers, coaches and role models: you can set a good example by speaking honestly about your own feelings. Help our young people on their way. Form a support network together and help young people learn to deal with adversity, sadness and stress. No doubt you can learn from them yourself. We must dare to look at ourselves honestly and help each other to find the balance in life.
In all the conversations I have with you young people, I hear and see your strength, vulnerability and openness. And also the struggle with the high expectations you have of yourself and of life. You deserve our unconditional support and help to stay mentally healthy. That starts very simply with a listening ear and an honest conversation.
Together we can do so much to help young people on their way to a healthy future! On December 6, MIND Us will present its plans for the coming years. You can count on young people being at the center of all our plans. We’re going to do this with them. If you join us, we will make a difference together!
HM Queen Maxima,
honorary chairman and co-initiator of the MIND Us Foundation
Also read the personal experiences of a number of young people who are struggling with their mental health. Click or tap the image below for their stories.