We are delighted to announce that Emese Kroon has received funding from the Erasmus Trustfonds for a two-year project investigating mental health and substance use among people from the Dutch Caribbean. Despite higher rates of alcohol- and cannabis-related problems and substantial challenges such as inequality, migration-related stress, and limited access to care, these communities remain underrepresented in research.

The project will explore which factors increase risk or offer protection, combining cross-cultural data with short-term daily assessments and a one-year follow-up. By examining how cultural context and personal history shape wellbeing and substance use, the study aims to generate insights that can support more culturally sensitive care and strengthen collaboration between researchers and professionals in both the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean.