Professional mental health aid for children, adolescents, and young adults during Covid-19 in Flanders, Belgium

Bibliographic Data

ID22075417
AuthorsEmilie Muysewinkel (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Lara Vesentini (0000-0002-4707-9380, Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Helena Van Deynse (0000-0001-7744-1478, Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Stephanie Vanclooster (0000-0002-5642-7711, Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Kenniscentrum Kinderrechten (iMinds), Sofie Devarwaere (Agence wallonne à l'Exportation et aux Investissements étrangers), Johan Bilsen (0000-0001-8371-4612, Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Roel Van Overmeire (0000-0003-3127-5683, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume13
Pages1527141-1527141
Publication date2025-07-15
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2025.1527141
PMID40735203
OpenAlexW4412415399
LanguageEN
References cited33

Few studies have investigated whether children, adolescents, and young adults (aged 10–25 years) had access to professional mental health aid when they desired it during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. An online survey was conducted in Flanders, Belgium, to examine professional mental health aid access (PMHAA). In total, 982 respondents were included, of whom the majority were between 13 and 15 years old (44.8%) and female (81.4%). Of these, 64.8% felt a need for PMHAA. Of those wanting PMHAA, only 29.6% had an appointment with a mental health professional. Those who did not have PMHAA mostly did not do so because of fear of stigma (54%), not knowing where to search for professional mental health aid (38.2%), and finding the aid to be too expensive (12.9%). This study’s findings indicate a large unmet need for professional mental health aid during the COVID-19 pandemic among people aged between 10 and 25 years old. There is a need for a campaign to reduce mental health stigma in this population

Disease · Environmental health · Family medicine · Mental health · Pandemic · Population · Psychiatry · Young adult · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Family Support in Illness · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology · Gerontology

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