Road of Hope is proud to be part of a groundbreaking step forward in community mental health support in the Netherlands. This April, Amsterdam has officially joined the global movement implementing Problem Management Plus (PM+), a low-intensity psychological intervention developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), tailored for adults experiencing emotional distress due to adversity.
PM+ is designed to help individuals manage common mental health symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and stress, especially in communities where access to specialized mental health care is limited. It equips trained helpers, not necessarily mental health professionals, with practical strategies from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) to support those in need.
Amsterdam is now piloting this intervention, with support from the Municipality and local social organizations, including Road of Hope. The pilot involves the training and deployment of PM+ Specialists, community-based helpers who will run sessions in diverse neighborhoods across the city.
A total of 11 participants from 8 different nationalities recently completed a rigorous two-week training organized by Work for Ukraine in collaboration with the Municipality of Amsterdam. Among them were three dedicated individuals nominated by Road of Hope: Yara (Egypt), Yusuf (Nigeria), and Elsayed (Egypt). Training was led by Felicia Stoutjesdijk and Margo Kadiyeva, two experienced mental health professionals who guided the group through sessions on stress management, problem-solving therapy, behavioral activation, and strengthening social support networks.
“I am honored to have worked with such amazing women like you. We did it!” – said Yara, reflecting on the training.
The initiative reached a celebratory milestone on April 17th with a graduation ceremony for the new PM+ Specialists. The event brought together trainers, trainees, social organizations, and representatives from the Municipality of Amsterdam. A warm Turkish lunch set the tone for the occasion as certificates were handed out and new beginnings embraced.
Road of Hope now prepares for the next steps: putting PM+ into practice through the Breath of Hope and Bridge of Hope projects. Beginning in May, Yara will facilitate the first Arabic-speaking women’s PM+ group in Amsterdam New West, while Yusuf and Elsayed will lead groups for men starting in June.
“It is a complementary approach to the work we are already doing regarding emotional support,” explains Andreea Alexandru, Project Coordinator of Breath of Hope.
“Our target groups remain the same, only now they will receive support through the PM+ methodology.”
In total, Breath of Hope New West 2025 will include six groups: two using PM+ and four continuing with the traditional Breath of Hope approach. Road of Hope will also ensure supervision and consistent reporting on progress, outcomes, and challenges.
“As with all collaborative initiatives, it’s a shared responsibility,” says Andreea. “One that promises hope, healing, and empowerment for many.”