Amsterdam, 16 December 2025 – Whether it’s stress, uncertainty or simply the need for a listening ear: more and more people are seeking support for their mental wellbeing. This is reflected in the growth of OpenUp, which this year reaches an important milestone: more than 500,000 employees are using the mental health platform through their employer. Including access for their immediate circle, the total reach amounts to 1.5 million people. The rapid growth since its founding in 2020 shows how essential low-barrier support has become. With the introduction of a 360-degree full-service model, OpenUp aims to scale further in the coming period and grow into one of the largest players in Europe in the field of mental health.
Five years of growth and insights from 260,000 conversations
Since its founding in 2020, OpenUp has grown into a key player in the Dutch and European workplace. With 500,000 users now connected through companies ranging from local organisations to large multinationals such as KPMG, Oatly and Décathlon. By also giving access to loved ones, such as partners, (step)parents or children, OpenUp potentially reaches 1.5 million people. The data the platform has collected over the past five years shows how great the need is for accessible mental healthcare. In total, more than 260,000 one-on-one sessions have been completed (100,000 this year alone), thousands of participants follow webinars and group sessions, and tens of thousands of people make use of self-guided courses and tools.
Anxiety among young people remains high
Key themes that have consistently ranked high on the agenda over the past five years include stress, relationships, personal boundaries and career development. One notable development in 2025: anxiety is rising to the number one most discussed topic among millennials and Gen Z. Gijs Coppens, founder of the platform and clinical psychologist, sees several causes: “Increasing work pressure, uncertainty in the job market and the constant pressure to balance career, personal life and social media. Add to that global tensions creating uncertainty. It is becoming increasingly difficult for young people to find their place in society. A positive development, however, is that talking about it is becoming more and more normal.”
From start-up to market leader
The growth of OpenUp makes visible that traditional healthcare systems cannot absorb this increasing demand. Current care is primarily designed to treat acute or physical complaints. If you break your leg, you’re helped quickly. In mental healthcare, it’s different: You often have to wait a long time before you can get started. At the same time, governments expect employers to play a greater role in the mental wellbeing of their employees. This creates a gap that needs to be bridged: people need timely, accessible mental support, but the healthcare system currently falls short. Through a combination of human guidance, smart technology and directly accessible tools, OpenUp creates the scalability that is lacking in traditional care. As a result, mental support is shifting from ‘hard to reach’ to ‘available to virtually everyone’.
A 360-degree model for Europe
With more than 2,000 connected organisations, the platform continues to build a 360-degree model for mental health. In 2021 they began expanding to Germany and the UK, and are now active in 35 countries, with the ultimate goal of becoming one of the largest European providers. The growth also creates a flywheel effect. Coppens: “The more people use the platform, the more precisely we can help them. But also the better we can deploy technology, the more expertise can be added and the more accessible and affordable mental support becomes.” OpenUp therefore envisions a future in which scalable prevention becomes a natural part of daily life and mental health becomes increasingly accessible.
From Gen Z to Boomer: how different generations seek help
In addition to the increase in anxiety among young people, it is notable that generations approach their mental health in their own way:
- Gen Z relatively often chooses 1-on-1 sessions
- Older generations (Gen X and Boomers) more often participate in group sessions
- Self-guided activities are popular across all generations, but especially among Gen X
- These insights offer organisations concrete tools for targeted support and a preventive approach.
About OpenUp
OpenUp helps employees grow, at work and beyond. Through an accessible platform, OpenUp offers direct support to build and retain resilient and engaged teams. The service consists of three components: personal sessions with psychologists or physical health experts such as nutritionists or sleep experts, interactive group sessions and online courses. Unlike traditional EAPs or occupational health services, OpenUp focuses on direct, preventive help with mental health issues. Support is anonymous, without waiting lists and available in more than 30 languages. More than 2,000 organisations and 500,000 employees rely on OpenUp to reduce absenteeism, increase retention and strengthen the productivity and engagement of their employees. More information: www.openup.com
