By Dr. Tim Sandle
SCIENCE EDITOR
DIGITAL JOURNAL
February 3, 2026
The EU wants to boost construction to help tackle the bloc's growing housing crisis - Copyright AFP PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU
Eurofound data shows that rents have reached up to 80% of median wages in parts of Europe (in terms of renting a standard two-room apartment). Clinicians warn that this level of housing insecurity is now driving chronic stress and anxiety among young adults, turning an economic crisis into a mental health one.
In particular, young adults appear to be disproportionately affected by the unaffordable housing crisis, as lower incomes mean they are less able to absorb rising costs. Across the EU, around 10% of people aged 15–29 are overburdened by housing costs, compared with about 8% of all age groups.
This varies in severity, but in several countries the gap is much larger: in Denmark, nearly 29% of young people face housing cost overburden, compared with 15% of the population overall, while in the Netherlands the rate for young people (15%) is more than double that of all ages (7%). In the same Eurofound study, we see that this has been made worse since 2010, average sale prices in the EU have risen by 55.4%, and rents by 26.7%
Dr. Hannah Nearney from Flow Neuroscience, a company that develops brain stimulation tools for depression treatment, has explained to Digital Journal how these pressures are affecting a whole generation and are creating a need for a more accessible form of care.
“The science suggests that unaffordable housing contributes to the mental health crisis by keeping people in a constant state of stress. When housing is insecure, the mind stays focused on survival rather than growth, creativity, or connection. Anxiety and depression are not just personal struggles in this context, but natural responses to a lived experience that deny people stability and psychological safety,” says Nearney.
She adds: “As an issue which historically did not hinder their parents, we must provide new tools to help address the impact of this chronic stress cycle.”
EU action
In recognition of housing issues, Brussels has recently unveiled the EU’s first Affordable Housing Plan, a roadmap designed to improve access to housing for workers, young people, and the homeless.
To tackle the current crisis, the EU plans to increase funding, encourage the release of vacant homes, introduce new rules on short-term rentals, promote workforce training, and explore measures to curb speculation in the housing market.
Is more needed?
Nearney considers that a healthcare support model is also needed: “In addition to housing plans, innovative care models are needed to address the mental health crisis caused by years of inaction. Those forced into unstable living conditions or who are overburdened by housing costs should have access to such services. Emerging tools such as brain stimulation techniques may help to support daily well-being in an increasingly demanding world.”
With brain simulation tools, these have been made more accessible and safer through technological progress. For example, treatments such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can aid with the management of low mood symptoms.
February 3, 2026
The EU wants to boost construction to help tackle the bloc's growing housing crisis - Copyright AFP PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU
Eurofound data shows that rents have reached up to 80% of median wages in parts of Europe (in terms of renting a standard two-room apartment). Clinicians warn that this level of housing insecurity is now driving chronic stress and anxiety among young adults, turning an economic crisis into a mental health one.
In particular, young adults appear to be disproportionately affected by the unaffordable housing crisis, as lower incomes mean they are less able to absorb rising costs. Across the EU, around 10% of people aged 15–29 are overburdened by housing costs, compared with about 8% of all age groups.
This varies in severity, but in several countries the gap is much larger: in Denmark, nearly 29% of young people face housing cost overburden, compared with 15% of the population overall, while in the Netherlands the rate for young people (15%) is more than double that of all ages (7%). In the same Eurofound study, we see that this has been made worse since 2010, average sale prices in the EU have risen by 55.4%, and rents by 26.7%
Dr. Hannah Nearney from Flow Neuroscience, a company that develops brain stimulation tools for depression treatment, has explained to Digital Journal how these pressures are affecting a whole generation and are creating a need for a more accessible form of care.
“The science suggests that unaffordable housing contributes to the mental health crisis by keeping people in a constant state of stress. When housing is insecure, the mind stays focused on survival rather than growth, creativity, or connection. Anxiety and depression are not just personal struggles in this context, but natural responses to a lived experience that deny people stability and psychological safety,” says Nearney.
She adds: “As an issue which historically did not hinder their parents, we must provide new tools to help address the impact of this chronic stress cycle.”
EU action
In recognition of housing issues, Brussels has recently unveiled the EU’s first Affordable Housing Plan, a roadmap designed to improve access to housing for workers, young people, and the homeless.
To tackle the current crisis, the EU plans to increase funding, encourage the release of vacant homes, introduce new rules on short-term rentals, promote workforce training, and explore measures to curb speculation in the housing market.
Is more needed?
Nearney considers that a healthcare support model is also needed: “In addition to housing plans, innovative care models are needed to address the mental health crisis caused by years of inaction. Those forced into unstable living conditions or who are overburdened by housing costs should have access to such services. Emerging tools such as brain stimulation techniques may help to support daily well-being in an increasingly demanding world.”
With brain simulation tools, these have been made more accessible and safer through technological progress. For example, treatments such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can aid with the management of low mood symptoms.
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