Almost half of Belgians seeking psychological help go untreated

More than 40 per cent of Belgians who say they need psychological help do not find adequate care, De Standaard reports on Tuesday.

Around 180,000 people in Belgium have sought psychological help since the cost of seeing a psychologist became reimbursable by health insurance funds. Luc Van Gorp, president of the Christian Mutuality (CM) fund, speaks of an "explosion" in the number of people seeking psychological help.

Yet there is still a long way to go in ensuring that everyone who needs help can actually get it, according to a new CM study. Two out of 10 people surveyed by the public health institute Sciensano said they needed psychological help, and just over 40 per cent of them did not find it.

The demand is even greater among young people, 40 per cent of whom said they needed psychological help. Women between 18 and 29 have the greatest need for mental health care.

"Cost continues to play a role," said Van Gorp, who wants to see the co-payments for seeing a psychologist reduced.

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