Psychology alumnus Marisse van Os is helping improve mental health services from within
A psychology degree, a career that started in the commercial sector and now a role where she feels she can make a difference. For alumnus Marisse van Os (34) everything has come together in her current job at an innovative mental health services provider.
‘This is the first time I’ve felt I’m building on a system that actually helps people’, she beams from her attic office, her permanent place of work.
Commuting student with a plan
When Marisse van Os started her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2009, she had more or less mapped out her path. She commuted every day from her home in Zoetermeer to Leiden. ‘That was ideal for me. Being looked after by my parents, meaning I could focus on my studies.’ She didn’t join any student associations but became involved in student life through a fellow student. ‘I joined the monthly dinners at her student association. It was no problem at all: the atmosphere was really open. I made some lasting friendships there.’
Changing direction
Marisse deliberately chose to study psychology. ‘People fascinate me. Everything fell into place during two taster lectures.’ But her student career did not quite go to plan. She wanted to work with children and while she was still a student started working at an institution that helps children with disabilities and their parents. ‘I realised I found it really difficult and couldn’t stop thinking about my work.’
She decided to change direction and take the Master’s in Social and Organisational Psychology. ‘The interaction between people and systems really appeals to me, so for example, how someone functions within a certain company.’
Stumbling block
Although she found the programme enjoyable and strong on content, one course was a stumbling block: Statistics. ‘I found that incredibly difficult. But thanks to a fantastic tutor – Benjamin – I managed to pass anyway. He guided me through and I even managed to get a final grade of 7.’
‘I felt it immediately: what they’re doing here really matters. That’s not to say the mental health service doesn’t have its frustrations like waiting lists and a lack of joined-up care.’
Bumps along the way
After graduating, Marisse landed in an HR role at a commercial telecom company. ‘Things went fast: from assistant to coordinator and finally manager.’ But she didn’t feel satisfied. She wanted a job with a social impact and after a few detours ended up back in the healthcare sector. ‘I felt it immediately in the mental health service: what they’re doing here really matters. That’s not to say the field doesn’t have its frustrations like waiting lists and a lack of joined-up care.’
Working on long-term change
Marisse recently started working at an organisation that wants to fundamentally change mental healthcare. ‘At LMcare we treat clients online and manage to do so intensively and effectively without waiting lists. That may sound a bit abstract but the difference you make is very concrete.’ In her role as HR manager, she focuses on the psychologists’ well-being. ‘If they stay fit for work, they will provide good support. So I indirectly provide better help for clients.’
The organisation does not have a classical hierarchy. ‘Everyone does what they are good at, making it open and human. We all work remotely but the team spirit is all the stronger.’ She gives the example of an internal Easter activity that nearly everyone joined in. ‘These kinds of initiatives build a sense of camaraderie, which is essential because people are working from different locations.’
Leiden as a basis
Her takeaway from her time in Leiden? ‘Not a specific course but a way of thinking: curiosity, critical analysis, the ability to carry on learning. I think that laid the basis for the way I work now. I get to think about how healthcare might look in ten years – that’s something I planted the first seeds for in Leiden.’
Marisse is clearly passionate about her work. ‘It gives me energy because I feel I’m doing something worthwhile and can really make a difference. I hope my enthusiasm inspires others to venture into innovative care. It’s something that takes guts and curiosity.’