The challenge of local care
“We’ve just received the assignment to start working with the SMI target group in the Gooi region,” Pim shares enthusiastically. As project leads, he and Maarten work closely with various care providers, municipalities, and other stakeholders involved with vulnerable groups. “Each region has its own dynamics and challenges. The key to success lies in tailoring the approach to local needs and infrastructure,” Maarten adds.
According to them, it’s important not only to focus on the problems but especially on the opportunities that arise locally. In the Gooi and Vechtstreek region, the goal is to develop a flexible and integrated care and support structure for people with SMI. This target group requires intensive collaboration across various domains, such as mental health services, addiction care, neighbourhood teams, and general practitioners. “There are so many different parties involved with these individuals, each with their own perspective and expertise. Without proper coordination, you risk everyone working in parallel rather than together,” says Maarten.
From vision to practice
Maarten and Pim emphasise that the FACT+ approach, which has been successfully implemented in Friesland and North Brabant, doesn’t have to be the solution for other municipalities. “We don’t want to copy and paste. What we need in the Gooi region, for example, is an approach that fits the local infrastructure and addresses the specific challenges we face here,” Pim explains.
He compares it to previous projects he has worked on. “In Friesland, for example, the focus was very much on integrated collaboration between mental health services and addiction care, because that was where the greatest need was. In the Gooi region, it’s crucial that we also work closely with neighbourhood teams and supported living services, as part of the care demand lies there.” Maarten adds: “The challenge is to get all the different parties aligned and to ensure that the care truly meets people’s needs. It sounds simple, but in practice, it’s anything but.”
Collaboration is essential in a SMI approach
What Maarten and Pim make clear is that collaboration is crucial to the success of an integrated approach. “As project leads, we see it as our role to connect the parties involved. Everyone wants the same thing: better care for people with SMI. But the way that goal is pursued differs from one organisation to another. That’s where the challenge lies,” says Maarten.
In the Gooi region, they are confident that the right steps are being taken to develop a successful approach. “We’ve laid a strong foundation by bringing the different parties into dialogue with one another. In the coming period, we’ll be working on a shared vision and a concrete action plan to improve care for the SMI target group,” says Pim.
Local realities must be the starting point
An integrated approach for people with SMI can only succeed if it aligns with the local reality. According to Maarten and Pim, this is the most important lesson they’ve learned over the past few years. “We see the same questions coming up in every region: How do we ensure collaboration across different domains? How do we safeguard client privacy? And how do we deliver the right care at the right time? If we tackle those questions one by one, we can achieve something meaningful together,” says Maarten.
Maarten and Pim are looking forward to further developing the “Gooi Region SMI Approach” and are determined—together with their colleagues and the organisations involved—to make a real difference in the care for people with severe mental illness. “This is no easy task, but by focusing on the local context, we can truly make an impact,” Pim concludes.