The state of psychiatry in Belgium
Abstract
Belgium, at the crossroads of different cultures, developed complex governmental structures hindering the development of comprehensive mental health policies. A total of 10.2% of the gross domestic product is spent on healthcare but only 6.1% of this total expenditure goes to mental health. Although mental healthcare is largely accessible and offers high levels of quality, it is questionable whether this can be maintained, given the economic climate. The collection of epidemiological data is problematic due to the different ways registration takes place within different care systems and the complexity of the state structure and its consecutive constitutional reforms. Coming from a largely hospital-driven psychiatric care, mental healthcare reforms of past decades have created more community-based care and new care pathways, still an on-going process. Psychiatry as a profession is currently challenged. Teaching mental health issues remains extremely limited within medical schools, resources for research are disproportionally limited, and working conditions less favourable, all this compared with other specialisms. Hence few graduates choose a career in psychiatry. Changing the public perception of what psychiatry is about, redefining the identity of psychiatrists as medical specialists, and their work have become important challenges for the next future.
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The report points to underfinancing of the mental health sector and poor allocation of its financial means.
“The report points not only to the sector being underfinanced, but also on the poor allocation of these financial means (Hermans et al., 2012).”
From Why adults with psychiatric conditions request euthanasia: A qualitative interview study of life experiences, motives and preventive factors (2021) · cites this paper as Hermans et al., 2012
Belgium invests about 6% of its total healthcare budget in mental health, below the 10% recommended by the OECD, despite high overall mental health costs and the second highest ratio of inpatient psychiatric beds.
“roughly only 6% of Belgium's total healthcare budget is invested in mental health, which is below the 10% that is recommended by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), despite being one of the European countries with the highest overall costs related to mental health problems, and with the second highest ratio of in-patient psychiatric beds (Hermans et al., 2012).”
From Why adults with psychiatric conditions request euthanasia: A qualitative interview study of life experiences, motives and preventive factors (2021) · cites this paper as Hermans et al., 2012
Cites
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Verhofstadt, M., Pardon, K., Audenaert, K., Deliens, L., Mortier, F., Liégeois, A., & Chambaere, K. (2021) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.09.032 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
- Authors
- Hermans, M. H. M., de Witte, N., & Dom, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Antwerp (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Hermans, Marc H. M.
- ORCID
- Dom, Geert
- Venue
- International Review of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2012-08
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 286-294
- ISSN
- 0954-0261 (ISSN-L)
- 1369-1627
- OpenAlex
- W2171897277
- Cited by
- 18
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 3.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Review of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Vlaamse regering
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychiatric care and mental health services
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Historical Psychiatry and Medical Practices
- Keywords
- mental health policy, mental health services, mental health care costs, psychiatric epidemiology, psychiatric reform, community-based care, psychiatry workforce, psychiatric training, medical curriculum, research funding, working conditions, public perception of psychiatry
- MeSH terms
- Workforce, Mental Disorders, Belgium, Humans, Mental Health Services, Psychiatry
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