One in five adolescents in Flanders face moderate to severe mental health problems

A new report from the KU Leuven’s SIGMA study, released on Wednesday, reveals that one in five adolescents in Flanders face moderate to severe mental health problems. The key risk factors include trauma, bullying, and lack of social support.

The SIGMA study, which has been ongoing since 2018, tracks the mental well-being of approximately 2,000 adolescents aged 11 to 21. Using a mobile app, it collects data at various stages of their development.

“The pandemic didn’t increase the prevalence of mental health issues but it made them more visible,” says professor Inez Germeys. “We’ve also observed that high-quality social interactions serve as a protective factor, and interestingly, online social connections have a positive effect as well.”

In 2018, before the pandemic, 17.6% of adolescents reported moderate to severe psychological complaints, with a quarter of them mentioning self-harming behaviours. By 2021, some symptoms, such as depression, had worsened. However, by the third survey in 2022-2023, results showed improvement, and even lower than pre-pandemic levels.

“We conclude that adolescents are more mentally resilient than expected,” Germeys said. This resilience, however, is less evident among socially vulnerable youth, where 38% are at higher risk for psychological issues. That is significantly more than their peers.

The study highlights bullying and trauma as major contributors to mental health problems. Parenting styles that suppress emotional expression also increase the risk. On the other hand, social support from family and friends serves as a crucial protective factor.

Adolescents who maintain regular, high-quality social contact are less likely to suffer from psychological complaints. Notably, online interactions tend to evoke more positive emotions than being alone, though face-to-face connections have a stronger positive effect. A combination of both online and physical social contact yields the best outcomes.

“Mental health requires an integrated approach, yet care services are often fragmented,” said Germeys. “Prevention and quick interventions are essential. Perhaps it’s time for a dedicated minister of mental health?”

Recent data from the Agency for Growing Up show a drop in the number of minors receiving crisis assistance last year, despite a rise in requests. One in three minors was denied help due to a lack of available resources.

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