Talking about how you really feel

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“How are you?” is a common question used to start a conversation. At work, when you visit someone, or when you’re standing by the sports field. But what do you actually do with the answer? Especially when you think the other person isn’t doing as well as they say they are.

Eleven municipalities in the region launched the “How are you?” campaign, with the goal of improving residents’ mental health. On the website www.hoe-is-het.nl, which went live on May 19, residents can find tips on how to start a conversation. There, they can learn how to let someone know that they’re not doing well and how to have a real conversation with someone about it.

How are you?

Everyone feels down sometimes: from stress and gloom to anxiety or just not feeling quite right. Yet many people find it hard to talk about it. Shame, self-doubt, or the feeling that you don’t want to burden others can get in the way of a conversation. But caring for one another can make a big difference.

Why this campaign?

From June 2 to 8 is Mental Health Week. In the run-up to this week, the website went live today. It is an initiative of 11 municipalities in the region: Berg en Dal, Beuningen, Druten, Heumen, Mook en Middelaar, Nijmegen, Wijchen, Buren,
Neder-Betuwe, Tiel, and West Maas en Waal. They aim to bring more attention to mental health. The website 'How are you?' is intended to make it easier to talk about how you are truly feeling and to ask others about it.

Tour with Angelique Krüger

On Monday, June 2, the first day of Mental Health Week, the “Hoe is het?” campaign will go on tour through Buren, Druten, Heumen, Nijmegen, and Tiel. The tour will feature a special bus and Angelique Krüger. She has been a presenter at Omroep Gelderland for many years and is best known for the Vierdaagse Journaals. During the tour, she will talk to people on the street about mental health. The schedule for this tour will be available in due course on the campaign’s website: www.hoe-is-het.nl.

Want to know more?

Visit www.hoe-is-het.nl and for tips and information.