Belgium (BE)
Belgium is a small but densely populated federal kingdom at the crossroads of Western Europe, split across three linguistic regions — Dutch-speaking Flanders, French-speaking Wallonia, and bilingual Brussels — and famed for its medieval cities, world-class beer and chocolate, and its role as the de facto capital of the European Union.
Mental Health Resources
Support, crisis lines and therapy access in Belgium.
Belgium has been reforming its mental health system since 2010 (Mental Health Reform Plan) with a shift from hospital-based care to community-based mental health networks (réseaux / netwerken). Since 2022, the first 8 sessions with a registered clinical psychologist or orthopedagogist are reimbursed by INAMI/RIZIV via GP referral. The system has high-quality care but significant waiting times for reimbursed services.
Crisis Lines
Centre de Prévention du Suicide / Zelfmoordlijn (French and Dutch)
0800 32 123
Languages: French, Dutch
Available: 24/7
FreeTele-Onthaal (Dutch-speaking general emotional support)
0800 20 555
Languages: Dutch
Available: 24/7
FreeEuropean Emergency Number
112
Languages: Dutch, French, German, English
Available: 24/7
FreeAccessing Therapy
Through public insurance: Since September 2022, INAMI/RIZIV reimburses 8 sessions per calendar year with an approved clinical psychologist or orthopedagogist. Patient contribution is approximately €11 per session. To access: 1) Ask your GP for a referral (verwijsbrief / lettre de référence). 2) Find an approved provider on therapiehulp.be (Flanders) or psy.be (French). 3) Book with a provider in the network (1ste lijn psychologische zorg / soins psychologiques de 1re ligne). Extended sessions may be available for severe conditions.
Waiting times: Reimbursed first-line psychological care typically has waiting times of 1–3 months. Specialised care (psychiatry, trauma, eating disorders) can have 3–12 month waits. Private (non-reimbursed) psychologists are usually available within 1–4 weeks.
- - Private psychologists (non-network) charge €60–120 per session — available much faster
- - Online therapy platforms: OpenUp, Psyt, NiceDay — often faster access with some employer insurance coverage
- - University psychology clinics in Brussels (ULB, VUB, UCLouvain, KU Leuven) offer low-cost therapy with supervised trainees
- - Some mutualities offer complementary psychology sessions — check your policy
- - Many international companies in Brussels have Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) with free counselling sessions
- - The CPAS/OCMW social workers can connect you with free social support services
Online Therapy
Insurance covered: No / partially
Online therapy is growing in Belgium but INAMI/RIZIV reimbursement only applies to in-person first-line network sessions as of 2026. Some private insurance plans cover online therapy — check with your mutuality or private insurer. Employer EAPs commonly cover several free online sessions.
Expat-Specific Challenges
- -Language barriers: most reimbursed therapists work in Dutch or French; English-speaking therapists available in Brussels but often not in the INAMI/RIZIV network (meaning no reimbursement)
- -Cultural isolation: Belgium can feel socially reserved, especially for newcomers to smaller cities and rural areas
- -EU-bubble stress: expats in Brussels working for EU institutions or international organisations face high-pressure environments with frequent relocations
- -Family separation: distance from support networks, parents, and siblings is a common trigger
- -Administrative overwhelm: Belgium's complex bureaucratic system (three communities, three regions, federal government) causes significant stress for newcomers
- -Language requirement pressure: many Flemish employers expect Dutch; this adds pressure on non-Dutch-speaking expats in Flanders
- -Expat-specific resources: the Brussels Expat Community, Expats in Belgium Facebook groups, and SINGA Belgium provide social connection and peer support
Belgium is actively expanding mental health access. The "Psy 107" community mental health reform has created a network of crisis teams (crisisinterventie) available 24/7 for acute mental health crises. If you are in crisis, call 1733 (GP out-of-hours) or go to the nearest hospital emergency room and state a psychiatric emergency.