New research shows at least 3.3 million suffered under Dutch slavery

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  • Post last modified:4 July 2026

Dutch investigative journalist Leendert van der Valk has revealed that the minimum number of people enslaved by the Netherlands in the transatlantic slavery system is a shocking 3.3 million. The figure is five times higher than the previous number of 600,000 commonly cited in the country. That’s the low-end estimate – he said Dutch slavers may have stolen the freedom of up to 5.3 million people. The Guardian note that King Willem-Alexander and then prime minister Mark Rutte have previously used the much lower number when apologising for the Dutch role in the hideous trade in human beings. Van der Valk…

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Nearly five million more people experiencing poor mental health since 2009

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  • Post last modified:10 June 2026

The Mental Health Foundation has released The Foundation Reports: The state of mental health inequality in the UK, based on data following 40,000 individuals over 15 years. The report found higher levels of poor mental health than recently reported in other datasets. One in four adults in the UK (25%) now experiences mental distress. That’s 14 million people. This has risen from 17% since the period immediately following the 2008 financial crisis. And that means an additional 4.8 million people now experience poor mental health just 16 years later. The evaluation of the Understanding Society dataset involved examining data gathered from…

Continue ReadingNearly five million more people experiencing poor mental health since 2009