Flanders will invest more in online psychological support
Flanders will be investing in the development of a directly accessible online support for 16 to 23 year olds with mental health problems. The corona crisis has shown the need for easily accessible and free assistance.
Online assistance in mental healthcare exists in various forms in Flanders. There is a wide range of online information and self-tests available seven days a week via the websites alcoholhulp.be, drughulp.be, depressiehulp.be, gokhulp.be and cannabishulp.be. There are online counselling programmes with help via chat sessions and online help is available in combination with face-to-face sessions with a counsellor.
Over the next two years, customised offers for young people will be developed through the Centres for Mental Health Care. In concrete terms, this involves online self-help to gain a better understanding of your symptoms and to see which counselling paths are possible. The offer is aimed at the age group of 16 to 23 years. In addition, there will be a more extensive offer for women with anxiety and depression symptoms during pregnancy, in cooperation with the Flemish Expertise Network Perinatal Mental Health.
"Digitalisation and innovation are opening up new perspectives in mental healthcare for customer-friendly services and even more customised care. Online help is low-threshold, accessible and enables the monitoring, follow-up and adjustment of online tools and self-tests. This form of assistance deserves a fully-fledged place within the range of psychological help and support," explains Flemish Minister of Welfare, Public Health and Family Hilde Crevits.
In the year 2021, some 600,000 euro was invested in online assistance. Minister Crevits now provides an additional investment. This will amount to EUR 865,541 in 2022 and EUR 933,340 in 2023.
#FlandersNewsService #FNS
© BELGA PHOTO / Wojtek RADWANSKI