A psychological disorder is a mental illness that has impaired functioning in at least one or more of the following areas: cognition, emotions, mood, language, and thought. It is the mental health condition that results in difficulty in maintaining relationships with others, places people in high-risk settings, relatively low level of external support. The risk factors for mental health conditions are usually interrelated to many other things. Almost 47% of the people living in Brussels have a chronic mental health condition or significant risk factors for developing one.

The most common mental health conditions are clinical depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism spectrum disorders, sleep disturbances. All of these are usually present in people with alcohol or drug dependence. Furthermore, people who have a diagnosis of one condition often co-occur with other mental health diagnoses as well. Less likely to be diagnosed are OCD and ADHD because they are not life long but can last for years after childhood phases. The problem is so grave that Brussels has the highest suicide rate in Europe.

Belgium’s treatment policy for serious mental illness lags behind that of many northern European countries according to VUB professor Wim van den Bosch who adds “we’re just scratching the tip of the iceberg,” and that only 20 to 30 percent of people who need more than average medical care receive it. A decade ago, a national plan was drafted by several health professionals, which included the definition of “severe and deep psychological suffering” as an indication for treatment at government expense.