Psychological help
Depression, behavioural problems, relationship problems, addiction… Psychological problems can have a very wide range of different causes. In the Brussels-Capital Region social assistance bodies can provide support by listening to your problems and reimbursing costs.
- Mental health services
On the website of the Common Community Commission you can search for a mental health service in Brussels (FR/NL)External link by name or commune.
- For psychological support, your first stop should be the Family Planning Centres and the Centra voor Algemeen Welzijn (CAW), which offer psychological consultations.
- The Service d'aide aux victimes (Victim Support Service): Under Belgian law the state can make payments to the victims of wilful acts of violence and, in some cases, to their family. This service provides social and legal assistance as well as psychological support to victims of violence. It is open to people of all ages, with a special focus on children: with a parent who has been a victim of violence, children that have witnessed acts of violence or victims of shocking events (not including abuse in the family, which is handled by the teams of 'SOS Enfants (FR)External link' for French speakers and the 'Vertrouwenscentra Kindermishandeling (NL)External link' for Dutch speakers). A host of information is available at SPF Justice on victim support (FR)External link.
For English speakers
Community Help Service (CHS)
CHS help line is an anonymous & confidential 24-hour crisis and Information telephone service. It provides support in English to people who do not speak French or Dutch.
Phone. : +32 (0)2 648 40 14
Online : www.chs-External linkbelgium.orgExternal link
For French speakers
- Mental health services
On the website of the French Community Commission (COCOF) you will find in the section about well-being and health the mental health services (FR)External link. Télé-Accueil Bruxelles
Télé-Accueil Bruxelles is an organisation subsidised by the Health sector of the French Community Commission (COCOF) working to prevent some consequences of isolation and the breaking of social relationships. Lines are open 24 hours a day to anyone who needs to talk. Télé-Accueil works with the Brussels-Capital Region’s mental health services.
24/7 helpline (no need to give your name): 107
Chat: www.sos-amitie.com/chatExternal link
Phone: +32 (0)2 538 49 21
Online: www.tele-accueil.be/bruxellesExternal link (FR)Centre de Prévention du Suicide
The remit of the Centre de Prévention du Suicide is to provide psychological support to people experiencing problems and personal crises through dialogue to prevent them from taking their own life. It does not provide medical advice, but it does work in association with the on-call doctors’ service or GPs in the event of attempted suicide.
The Centre de Prévention du Suicide operates 24/7 and is subsidised by the Health sector of the French Community Commission (COCOF) as a helpline centre.
Helpline: 0800 32 123 (free) - 24/24
Online: www.preventionsuicide.beExternal link (FR)S.O.S VIOL
In addition to medical and legal assistance, 'S.O.S. VIOL' provides personalised psychological support to people who have been the victim of sexual assault.
Rue de Bordeaux, 62 A, 1060 Brussels
Phone: +32 (0)2 534 36 36
Online: www.sosviol.beExternal link (FR)Assistance in schools
The PMS (psycho-medico-social) centres and SMI (school medical inspection) teams attached to schools provide psychological, medical and social support to students and parents.
The full list of PMS centres in Belgium is available on the French Community’s education portal.
Web: www.enseignement.beExternal link (FR)
For Dutch speakers
- De sociale kaart is an online database about services in the health and welfare sector in Brussels and Flanders (NL)External link.
- Centrum Algemeen Welzijnwerk (CAW) (centers for general well-being) provides support to people experiencing difficulties.
Boulevard d'Anvers 34, 1000 Brussels
Phone: +32 (0)2 486 45 00
Email : onthaal@cawbrussel.be
Online: www.caw.beExternal link (NL) 'Tele-onthaal'
Tele-onthaal runs a 24/7 anonymous phone line to respond to a whole range of questions and problems. Volunteers with proper training are ready to listen and advise anyone experiencing problems. You can also chat with volunteers online at specific times.
Helpline: 106
Email: brussel@tele-onthaal.be
Online: www.tele-onthaal.beExternal link (NL)'Centrum ter Preventie van Zelfdoding' (Suicide prevention)
The Centrum ter Preventie van Zelfdoding’s (Suicide Prevention Centre) 'Zelfmoordlijn' (suicide prevention line) is specialised in helping people in distress and those with suicidal tendencies. As well as running a phone line and text chatting it is also a centre of expertise in suicide prevention and training for helpers.
Ferdinand Lenoirstraat, 27-31, 1090 Brussels
Helpline: 1813
Online: www.zelfmoord1813.beExternal link (NL)Assistance in schools
The Centrum voor Leerlingenbegeleiding (CLB) is an organisation providing assistance and support in the school environment in close association with all schools under the Flemish Community. It offers assistance to students, educators and parents with regard to questions about educational (academic orientation), psychological, medical and social matters.
Full information is available on the Flemlish Community’s education portal.'Teleblok'
Teleblok provides assistance by phone and online to students during exams.
Phone: 0800 13 14 4 (free number in Belgium)
Online: www.teleblok.beExternal link (NL)
'Bruxelles Social en ligne (FR/NL)', an interactive social map of the Brussels-Capital Region in French and Dutch, which also provides access to the full spread of social and health services.