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More than 1 in 10 people in Brussels have mental health issues
More than one in ten Brussels residents suffer from mental health problems. According to figures from the public health science institute Sciensano 12.9% of people in Brussels have symptoms of anxiety and 12.6% are suffering from some form of depression. The regional authorities in Brussels call on people in the capital to talk about any problems they might and to seek help.
During the corona crisis, a lot of attention was paid to mental health issues. Since then this has fallen somewhat by the wayside. Nevertheless, mental health problems remain an issue in the daily lives of many residents of our capital city.
According, to Sciensano’s BELHEALTH survey half of the people in Brussels that say that they have have mental health issues don’t ask for help. Of those that said that they have issues almost half say they haven’t asked for any help. 36% of these say that the reason for this is “a lack of time” and 31% said that they are not receiving any help as they didn’t dare take the step and ask for it.
The Head of the Brussels Mental Health Platform Luc Detavernier told the Brussels regional news platform Bruzz that "This is a worrying situation. Many people take far too long to ask for help. It is important that the stigma when it comes to seeking help is removed. Dare to talk about your issues, don’t be afraid to speak up and share your problems".
Nathalie Noël of the Brussels regional authority that is responsible for health says that “Talking about it with friends and family or contacting a psychologist can be a decisive step towards better mental health”.
The regional authorities plans to team up with Psybru, an initiative that helps people find a psychologist close to their home, and launch an awareness campaign to encourage Brussels people to talk about their concerns and issues with relation to mental health
