Almost one in five Belgians affected by mental health issues, reveals new survey

Nearly one in five Belgians is affected by a mental health condition, with young people suffering in particular, according to the latest health survey by the Sciensano Institute.

It highlights a growing prevalence of issues such as anxiety, stress, sleep disturbances and fatigue across the population. General psychological well-being as well as mental health problems have deteriorated over the past 20 years, it finds.

One in 10 people say they are "very dissatisfied" with their life and one in five is pessimistic about their future, reveals the mental health section of the public health institute’s national survey, which was conducted between January 2023 and December 2024.

Anxiety now affects 13% of the population in Belgium, compared to 11% in 2018, when the previous survey was published. The number of Belgians suffering from depression has increased from 9% to 13% over the same period.

Nearly a quarter of young people, particularly those aged 15 to 24, reported anxiety disorders or depression. This age group is also experiencing an increase in eating disorders and suicide attempts. With the suicide rate in Belgium rising since 2018, these latest figures underline the need for mental health support for young people.

Women, people of working age and those with lower levels of education or income are also suffering poorer mental health. Overall, well-being indicators remained less favourable in Wallonia than in Flanders, but the mental health situation was shown to be deteriorating more significantly in the north of the country.

For Sciensano, major crises such as the economic downturn, the Covid pandemic and geopolitical uncertainty may have exacerbated mental health challenges for the population. "These figures demonstrate the high and sustained prevalence of mental disorders in Belgium,” it says.

The institute is calling for immediate action to improve access to psychological support and preventive care, particularly for vulnerable groups, including women, young people and those in socially disadvantaged situations.

Targeted measures will be crucial to addressing the mental health crisis and supporting those most at risk, says Sciensano.

Photo: ©Sciensano Facebook page