Mental Health in Belgium: 10 priorities for research and funding outlined in new report highlighting sector’s “scarce resources”

The 10 most urgent research priorities for mental health care in Belgium have been identified by the Fund for Mental Health Research, an initiative managed by the King Baudouin Foundation (KBF).

It presented the results of the MIND10 project, a collaboration with the Centre for Contextual Psychiatry at KU Leuven, on the eve of World Mental Health Day on 10 October.

Globally, only 7.4% of the total medical research budget is allocated to topics related to mental health care — equating to around 50 cents per person per year, the KBF said in a press statement.

“Moreover, the distribution of these scarce resources is uneven: conditions such as depression and substance abuse receive considerable attention, while other serious issues like self-harm and eating disorders remain underrepresented,” it added.

A lack of practice-oriented research focusing on prevention, early detection, treatment, health literacy, recovery and the organisation of care, was also highlighted in the MIND10 project.

The study was conducted via a participatory model in which patients, families, care providers, researchers and policymakers worked together to identify the most pressing research questions.

The resulting top 10 list of research priorities will serve as a foundation for future funding and policy.

1  Accessible and effective prevention programmes, with a focus on socially vulnerable groups
2  Improved collaboration between informal and professional care for early detection of mental health issues
3  Enhanced detection and treatment of mental health problems with older adults
4  Tailored care for diverse and complex needs
5  Promotion of a culture of evidence-based practices
6  Integration of recovery principles into care
7  Support and recognition for relatives and close contacts
8  Effective involvement of relatives in treatment
9  Improved access, continuity, and collaboration in mental health care
10 Understanding the causes and impact of waiting times and developing strategies to reduce them

Call for projects and funding

The Fund for Mental Health Research has now launched its first call for projects with a budget of €1.6 million available.

It targets innovative, practice-oriented research projects that are designed and implemented in collaboration with all stakeholders — including patients, family members and care providers — and that take at least one of the 10 priorities as a starting point.

Interested candidates can consult the call documents and register for the mandatory information sessions on 12 November. Applications may be submitted from 13 November.

Photo: KBF©Shutterstock