7.5 Mental health
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National strategy(ies)
There are currently no national strategies on young peoples' mental health in the German-speaking Community of Belgium. But for those affected with mental illness, there is targeted assistance in the German-speaking Community. The main youth policy document of the German-speaking Community, the Strategic Plan on Youth 2016-2022 (Jugendstrategieplan 2016-2022) considers Emotions and Self-Image as one of its four focus topics. It is intended to also define Emotions and Seld-Image as one of the focus topics in the following Strategic Plan on Youth 2023-2027.
Improving the mental health of young people
For young people with mental illness there is targeted assistance in the German-speaking Community.
The Counselling and Therapy Center (Beratungs- und Therapiezentrum, BTZ)
The Counselling and Therapy Center is a public counselling and therapy facility. The services are aimed at adults, children and young people, individuals, couples, parents and families.
The Counselling and Therapy Center provides assistance with mental health problems and interpersonal difficulties:
Stress and pressure, anxiety and depression, behavioural disorders, educational difficulties, questions on drug taking, dependency and addictive behaviour, mental illness, family conflict, separation or estrangement, sexual difficulties, suffering violence etc.
The activity covers:
individual psychological counselling for young people and adults, psycho-social support, partnership consultation, family and parent consultation, child diagnosis and therapy, out-patient psychological care and group therapy.
The Counselling and Therapy Center brings together various occupational groups in one location: psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. The members of staff are trained in different specialist areas.
The first consultation gives the clients the opportunity to describe their difficulties, concerns and expectations. At the first consultation, client and counsellor plan how to proceed. From that, the counsellor will discuss the request and range of counselling services with his/her specialist colleagues.
The Counselling and Therapy Center staff are bound to professional secrecy.
Psychiatric treatment at the St. Josef clinic in St. Vith
The clinic in St. Vith has a psychiatric ward with 30 beds. This ward provides acute inpatient treatment and therapy for adults. Depending on the case, young people from 16 years of age are also accepted.
The functions:
- Diagnosis of illness
- Therapeutic services ranging from drug therapy to psychotherapy, art and ergotherapy
- Social and parent counselling
The Federal State finances both the inpatient service at the St. Josef clinic and the psychiatric day clinic. The patient's own contribution is largely covered by health insurance. As with any other stay in hospital, there is just a remaining amount to pay.
Patient Council (Patientenrat und -treff)
The Patient Council carries out the campaign Feel Well... Breathe through (Fühl dich wohl... atme durch) to support mental health and well-being. This initiative is however not specifically targeted at young people.