Mental health care in Belgium: National survey plus where to get help and support

Addressing poor mental health and providing more than adequate care and services for all sectors of the population is one of the major challenges for society.

In this practical guide, we detail some aspects of mental health care in Belgium and provide a useful directory of services and support networks.

History of mental health care

Mental illness has long presented a complex challenge as it typically does not cause physical symptoms. In more severe cases, patients are not always aware of the need for treatment, or are willing to accept it.

It was only in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that the foundations of modern psychiatric theories and interventions were laid. As understanding of mental illness evolved, classification systems, in particular the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), were developed to standardise the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions. The classification of mental disorders has undergone several revisions, with the DSM-IV and its successors attempting to account for the diversity and complexity of symptoms.

Along with the majority of Western countries, since 2010 Belgium has moved from an institutional to a deinstitutionalised model of mental health care. This means that people suffering from more severe psychiatric disorders are treated ‘in the community’; living in their home with the help of outreach services rather than in a hospital or specialised clinic. One natural downside of deinstitutionalisation is of course that fewer hospital beds are available.

Psychiatrists in Belgium

While psychiatrists are not the only people providing mental health care, they do play a crucial role, especially for people living with severe or chronic illness. The number of practicing psychiatrists is a useful indicator of the accessibility of mental health care, according to Healthy Belgium, which provided the following figures:

• In 2021, the number of practising psychiatrists in Belgium was 2011, which relates to 1.74/10 000 inhabitants.
• About 90% of psychiatrists are ‘conventioned’, which means they charge agreed-upon prices for their services.
• In 2021, the density of psychiatrists was twice as high in Brussels (3.30/10 000) as in Flanders (1.50/10 000) and Wallonia (1.64/10 000). As these figures are based on their home address, it doesn’t necessarily coincide with their workplace.
• In 2021, the density of practising psychiatrists in Belgium was below both EU-14 and EU-27 averages (2.07 and 1.84/10 000).

Rise in poor mental health

Yet mental health disorders are a major public health problem due to their frequency, the suffering they cause and their impact on the physical and social health of individuals and those around them.

Mental health disorders are increasing in Western societies with societal and cultural factors in modern life recognised as contributing to the prevalence of these illnesses. If the need to address their rise is recognised as being crucial for the future well-being of society, funding and resources are frequently lagging behind.

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

Anxiety, stress, sleep disturbances and fatigues is on the rise across the population, it found when questioning people between January 2023 and December 2024.

One in 10 said they were "very dissatisfied" with their life and one in five was pessimistic about their future. 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.

In terms of medication, the use of sedatives (sleeping pills or tranquilizers) has been declining since 2008, but the use of antidepressants continues to increase.

Regarding adolescents, the latest UNICEF report estimates from 2022 indicate that more than 16.3% of young people aged 10 to 19 in Belgium have been diagnosed with a mental disorder. These estimates are likely the tip of the iceberg, as many children remain undiagnosed. According to the 2022 HBSC surveys, the mental health of adolescents in Belgium tends to deteriorate with age. Girls are particularly affected: more of them perceive themselves to be in poorer health, report psychosomatic symptoms and feel lonely more often than boys.

New focus on young children

The mental health of children remains a weak link in Belgium’s public health, warns its Superior Health Council (CSS).

With anxiety, bullying and other mental health problems rising among young people, it calls for the urgent implementation of a national strategy to address these issues from the earliest years of life.

"Every euro invested in early childhood could save up to three euros in adulthood, notably by reducing healthcare costs, unemployment and crime," the Council points out.

It has four recommendations to improve the mental health of young children.

• Raise widespread public awareness about the challenges of parenthood and child development.
• Highlight the need to support families through prenatal consultations and measures guaranteeing good living conditions, with particular attention to vulnerable households.
• Recognise the need for more training for professionals in the early detection of psychological vulnerabilities.
• Advocate for more accessible care through perinatal networks established in locations close to families.

ACCESSING CARE AND TREATMENT

In Belgium, you don’t need a referral from your GP before you approach a psychiatrist, psychotherapist or counsellor, but you’re advised to consult first with your GP. Specialists can be found via Geomed.be, a site where you can find someone who speaks your own language.

You can also consult the website of the Belgian Federation of Psychologists to find a recognised psychologist and check the membership list of the Belgian Association for Psychotherapists to find a reliable psychotherapist. There are psychiatric hospitals all over the country and you can find those in your region via hospitals.be.

Appointments with psychiatrists are almost fully reimbursed. Many health insurance funds will partially repay the costs of psychological or psychotherapeutic help but the conditions and amounts differ. Reimbursement of psychotherapy is frequently excluded from complementary cover. Information on all services can also be found in the health sections of regional authority websites.

Useful links

• Belgian Federation of Psychologists
   bfp-fbp.be
• Association Belge de Psychothérapie/Belgische vereniging voor Psychotherapie
  abp-bvp.be
• Cocom/GGC (Brussels health services)
  ccc-ggc.brussels
• Walloon health network
  sante.wallonie.be
• Flemish health service
  geestelijkgezondvlaanderen.be
• For a Healthy Belgium (national survey)
  Healthy Belgium-Mental Health

Support for mental health and psychosocial disorders

Neurodiversity Belgium. Multidisciplinary network providing support to English-speaking families
ADHD – ASC – Dyslexia Family Resources Belgium

Online and phone advice from Leuven centre on eating disorders (Dutch). 016.89.89.89
ANBN

Anti-stress therapy in courses and workshops for individuals and organisations.
Brussels Mindfulness Institute

Flemish support project for people with mental health conditions.
Buddywerking

The Brussels mental health centre for adults, children, adolescents and families boasts a multidisciplinary and multilingual team. It also runs a 24/7 telephone hotline for support and advice in English: 02.648.40.14
Community Help Service (CHS)

Mental health support for children, adults and families.
02.762.58.15
Le Chien Vert

Reference centre for mental health professionals and services in Wallonia.
CRéSaM

Alliance of mental health professionals.
Ligue Bruxelloise Francophone pour la Santé Mentale

Online information for chronic mental health conditions, in particular schizophrenia (French).
Mens Sana

Umbrella organisation representing mental health associations in Europe that protects the rights of people with psychosocial disabilities and strives to improve mental health care and social inclusion.
Mental Health Europe

The Brussels mental health association serves French- and Dutch-speaking people, and offers a directory of services in Brussels, PFCSM. It is active in areas related to mental health: prevention, destigmatisation, mediation, housing, addictions, recovery, professional reintegration, precarity, and user/family representation and coordination. The association runs a free and anonymous helpline for anyone seeking information or needing support related to a mental health issue (18.00-21.00). Tel: 0800.12.341.
Plateforme de Concertation pour la Santé Mentale

Multilingual centre in Etterbeek run by association of independent psychologists. Offers therapy and coaching.
Psygroup

Similes
Support for families and friends of people suffering from psychiatric and psychic problems. There are three regional associations in Belgium: in Brussels and Wallonia (French) and Flanders (Dutch).

Schizophrenia 24x7
Support for sufferers of schizophrenia and psychosis (French/Dutch). Platform provided by Janssens pharmaceutical company.

Ups & Downs
Self-help for people with bipolar disorder and chronic depression.

Suicide

Suicide is a major public health problem in Belgium. The country has the fourth highest suicide rate in Europe with 15.4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, according to latest figures by Eurostat.

It is also the leading cause of death for people aged 10-54 in the country. Every day, five people take their own lives, as do two young people aged 10-24 every week. One in six deaths among 15-24 year olds is due to suicide, making it the second leading cause of death after road traffic accidents. These figures have, however, decreased by 20% since 2011.

Here are the key messages from Sciensano on suicidal behaviour, published in June 2025:

• Suicidal behaviour (thoughts, attempts, and completed suicides) represent an important public health and societal problem in Belgium.
• In 2018, 4.3% of the population had seriously considered suicide and 0.2% had attempted suicide in the last 12 months. Women, middle-aged people, and the lowest educated group were more at risk.
• In November 2023, more than one in six young people (aged 18-29) said they had seriously considered suicide in the last 12 months.
• While more women consider and attempt suicide, more men succeed: 1208 suicides were recorded among men and 554 among women in 2022.
• The suicide mortality rate increase in 2022 compared to 2021.
• Suicide is the leading cause of death among young people. In the 15-24 age group, more than one death out of four were due to suicide.

Befrienders Worldwide Global Suicide Prevention
Centre de Prévention du Suicide Suicide prevention centre and crisis helpline (Fr)
Community Help Service (CHS) Mental health centre and crisis helpline (Eng)
Darkness into Light - Belgium Awareness-raising and fundraising initiative by Pieta (Ireland’s national charity for suicide & self-harm prevention) 
Un pass dans l’impasse Brussels suicide prevention centre (Fr)
VLESP Flemish Centre of Expertise in Suicide Prevention (NL)
1813 Suicide helpline (NL)

The production of this feature was supported by a grant from the Local Innovative Media In Europe Network (LIMENet), co-funded by the European Union.