Mental health services in Belgium

Abstract

Belgium exhibits a complex governmental structure with overlapping yet fragmented healthcare service responsibilities across various levels. The past decade has been characterized with major political reforms, and a continuing road towards deinstitutionalization, enhancing care intensity, and fortifying primary care services. This article provides a concise overview of recent epidemiological trends in Belgium, the organizational landscape of mental healthcare, the roles and financing mechanisms of key institutions and professions, and a selection of specific topics such as euthanasia. Mental healthcare has ascended on the political agenda with a declaration of interest to eliminate a historical underfunding. This is urgent because over one fifth of the adult population struggles with mental issues on a yearly basis, with suicide rates 50 to 60% above the European average. Beyond the individual toll, there is a burning societal impact, reflected in the 7.4 billion euro directly spend within the healthcare sector, alongside substantial additional costs incurred through social security and productivity losses. Policy measures are needed to tackle contemporary challenges such as the attraction, recruiting and retention of skilled healthcare personnel, ensuring equitable remuneration across institutions and professions, and addressing critical areas such as forensic, transcultural, and transition psychiatry.

Keywords: Mental healthcare; epidemiology; organization of care.