Belgium faces mounting mental health pressures

Belgium’s mental health system is under increasing strain, with a growing number of workers in the justice sector seeking psychological support after traumatic incidents on the job. Data from the Federal Public Service of Justice show that many of those asking for help are prison officers, an indicator of the mounting pressure inside the country’s overcrowded and understaffed prisons, where violence and suicides are rising.

According to the Central Prison Monitoring Council (CTRG) and the Federal Institute for Human Rights (FIRM), the suicide rate in Belgian prisons is 50 per cent higher than the European median, placing the country among the worst performers in Europe. In a recent submission to the Council of Europe, experts highlighted a “structural lack of psychiatric care for detainees.” Belgium counts only 0.2 psychiatrists per 1,000 inmates, compared with the European average of 1.3. Training for prison staff in suicide prevention and the management of mental illness is also deemed insufficient.

We are developing better care pathways for both prisoners and internees

Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden has acknowledged the shortcomings but points to steps already taken in cooperation with the Federal Public Health Service and regional authorities. “We are developing better care pathways for both prisoners and internees, and we are reinforcing care teams within prisons,” she told De Morgen. ​

The expert report follows a 2020 judgment by the European Court of Human Rights, which condemned Belgium for the degrading treatment of a mentally ill prisoner in Arlon who, after several suicide attempts, was shackled and placed in isolation without adequate medical care.

Broader crisis

The pressures visible in the prison system mirror a broader mental health crisis in Belgian society. A national survey by Sciensano (2023–2024) found that nearly one in five Belgians experiences a psychological disorder such as anxiety, depression, or sleep disturbance. Young people are particularly affected: around one in four aged 15 to 24 shows symptoms of depression or anxiety, and reports of self-harm and eating disorders are on the rise. Women and people with lower educational attainment also show higher rates of psychological distress, often linked to financial insecurity and social isolation.

Recent crises - ranging from the pandemic to inflation and geopolitical instability - have deepened the strain. While most Belgians still describe their mental well-being as stable, nearly half report serious sleep problems and one in five feels pessimistic about the future.

Mental health problems now account for 37 per cent of all long-term disability cases in Belgium, and the number of people unable to work due to depression or burnout has risen by nearly 50 per cent since 2016. Experts warn that without greater investment in capacity, coordination and prevention, the psychological toll on both the workforce and the prison system will continue to grow.

^{The picture shows a protest by Youth Assistance Services (SAJ) and Youth Protection Services (SPJ) in Brussels on Wednesday, 12 July 2023. The SAJ and the SPJ are responsible for caring for all at-risk and/or disadvantaged minors, including those with mental health issues and disabilities. © BELGA PHOTO MORGANE BERGER}