Mental Health is not a side note but our core value
Building an international career comes with a high price.
Beyond the time and financial investment, leaving your home country and starting from scratch in a new culture takes a deep emotional toll.
After supporting over 5,000 international students and alumni in the Netherlands and listening to their stories, we’ve realized something loud and clear:
Success abroad often comes with unseen struggles—and we can no longer afford to ignore them.
That’s why from our relaunch onward, Mental Health will be a core pillar of everything we do at Holland Alumni Network (HAN).
Why Mental Health Matters at HAN
Every year, hundreds of hopeful international students arrive in the Netherlands, filled with dreams about their future. But after the excitement fades—during cold winters, stressful deadlines, or post-graduation uncertainty—many experience something else: loneliness, confusion, and pressure.
And it doesn’t stop there. These feelings often grow with us, morphing into burnout, self-doubt, identity struggles, or the weight of “making it” in unfamiliar systems. For many, every academic or career achievement carries an untold story of emotional resilience—or quiet suffering.
Mental health is not a luxury.
It’s not something to talk about only when the red flags are too big to ignore.
It’s a necessity—one that **impacts our careers, our relationships, and our sense of self.
At HAN, we’ve always supported talented international professionals—often before they even land in the Netherlands. But now, we’re taking it one step further: by making mental well-being a shared responsibility.
The Hidden Barrier: Getting Help Isn’t Easy
Even when you’re ready to seek help, support isn’t always accessible.
In the Netherlands today, over 80,000 people are on mental health waiting lists. More than 41,000 have already waited longer than the legal maximum of 14 weeks. These delays hit hard—and internationals face even steeper obstacles.
Between language barriers, limited English-speaking professionals, insurance confusion, and the cost of private therapy (often €90–€120 per session), many simply don’t know where to turn. Navigating a new healthcare system while already feeling vulnerable can be overwhelming—and for some, it becomes a barrier too high to cross.
Meanwhile, the struggles persist: visa stress, job rejection, performance pressure, culture shock, and a silent feeling of being “not quite from here, not quite from there.”
We believe that community can bridge this gap.
We’re not here to replace professional care. But we are here to offer something that’s often missing: compassionate, culturally-aware, peer-based support that makes people feel seen before they reach a crisis point.
What We’re Doing About It
Mental health won’t be a side project or occasional workshop. It will be a constant presence in how we support our international community. Here’s what we’re building:
– Regular expert-led workshops on emotional well-being, burnout prevention, and personal development
– Peer-led circles and 1-on-1 support options, where people can speak freely and feel understood
– Mental health resources in multiple languages, accessible to members across disciplines and borders
– Integration into all career and alumni events —because well-being is part of success, not separate from it
– Safe spaces for real conversations, free from judgment, stigma, or performance pressure
We’re here to celebrate your wins—but also to support you through your doubts, your transitions, and your tough days.
Meet Armandina – Leading Mental Health at HAN
We’re proud to introduce Armandina Ramírez, who will lead our mental health efforts as a transversal core across all of HAN’s work.
Originally from Mexico, Armandina arrived in the Netherlands in 2017 to pursue a Master’s in Health and Social Psychology at Maastricht University. Her expertise spans mental health, intercultural transitions, and intuitive eating. Through therapy, workshops, and community spaces, she has supported countless internationals and expats in navigating the challenges of life abroad.
Armandina will serve as both our advocate and architect—ensuring mental health is not just a program, but a value that runs through everything we offer.
Let’s Begin: Our First Mental Health Event
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Your International Career
We’re kicking off HAN’s new Mental Health vertical with a powerful online session on one of the most common emotional challenges in international life: imposter syndrome.
Join us on Tuesday, May 7 at 5 PM (CET) for an open, expert-led conversation exploring why imposter syndrome shows up so often in international careers—and how you can overcome it to build confidence and emotional resilience.
Register for free and learn more here
Join Us on This Mission
We are more than our careers.
We are more than our LinkedIn profiles.
We are human—navigating change, challenges, and growth across borders.
At HAN, we’re committed to walking alongside you—not just in moments of achievement, but through every step of your journey.
Because when we talk about mental health, we talk about belonging.
When we prioritize well-being, we create real, lasting community.
👉 Ready to join HAN? Join us for free today and stay updated on all our events, resources, and support channels
We’re here. We’re listening. And we’re building HAN together.
