Community mental health care in a big city requires a different approach. Many care providers work in the same neighbourhood, problems are often complex. This match is an opportunity to learn about a novel approach, centred around the citizen and their own informal network and show how this is being done in a multicultural city like Amsterdam.  

In 2021, Amsterdam re-organized their social work approach in a different, more integral way. Integrated neighbourhood teams were formed, who are the eyes and ears in the neighbourhood, with responsibility for organizing and financing care and support. Citizens are now asked “Who can help you to solve your problem?”. 

In this match, we will introduce you to a neighbourhood team, involving peer support workers and welfare organizations. We will explore how they interact with different care providers who have shared goals, providing the best possible mental health care. We will demonstrate this with examples such as how the Mayor and mental health institutions work together with smaller and more flexible organizations, including a unique approach that takes community mental health a step further.