At the third edition of the States Public Mental Health Conference (#SGGG24), which took place last Thursday, many positions and demands could depend on the agreement of the many healthcare actors present and the parliamentarians delegated to the political debate.
States Public Mental Health (SGGG) consists of approximately fifteen organizations and health care actors committed to improving mental health care. On 8 February 2024, the third meeting took place since its founding in 2019. The conference was attended by approximately 400 participants in the University Hall of the University of Leuven on the University of Gasthuisberg campus. It has provided a platform for problem-solving and discussions in the run-up to elections later this year.
Critical topics, from poverty to cross-cultural care
The four working groups within the SGGG reported on critical topics: financing mechanisms, poverty, transition-age youth, and waiting times. They have been working hard on this for two years since the previous version. Conclusion? Progress has been made on each of these points, mostly through actions taken by SGGG itself, but there is still a long way to go.
Four speakers then launched as many new working groups that will address the various challenges of mental health care in the coming years. Luc Van Gorp, Chairman of the CM Board of Directors, and Steven Engelbrecht, Director of Covias, presented the working group that will focus on integrated care. The “Prevention” working group was presented by Verlie Suez, a researcher at Karel De Groot University College, and journalist Guy Tegenbos. Lukas Claus, researcher at VUB, and expert Sanaa Sadat Mohamed Rafie Nazri called for attention to cross-cultural care, and Willek Dijkhofs, CEO of GZA, and President of CAW Wouter Torfs created the “Workforce” working group.
The working groups are still currently looking for members (Look further), they now have two years to conduct a supported analysis of the problem and develop proposals to address bottlenecks in their field. They will report on this at the next General Assembly in 2026.
Priority is for youth and prevention
After the working groups presented their findings and problem statements, the memorandum was presented. The House of Representatives makes ten recommendations to politicians in the period leading up to the elections, especially the next period of government.
SGGG strongly recommends two topics to governments: prioritizing youth and prevention. Not coincidentally, two recommendations are forward-looking. This policy provides disproportionately low “youth” and “prevention” benefits, despite the fact that early intervention can prevent or mitigate further problems later in life and so health (social) care costs are largely limited.
Encouraging political debate
The political discussion that followed the submission of the memorandum was attended by Kathleen Depoorter (N.Va.), Freya van den Bosch (Voroit), Jeremy Vannekhout (Gruen), Else van Hove (CD&V), and Ruby de Calloway (Open Vld). Responding to different positions presented to them by moderator Guy Teigenbos.
Do you give priority to youth? They agreed almost unanimously on this. They also find prevention very important. They also consider that discrimination against people with psychological impairment is unacceptable, as occurs, for example, in most hospital insurance policies. But there is also a more general distinction: Funding for and research into mental health care lags far behind physical care.
It was encouraging to hear that politicians could agree to chart a path for budget growth for mental health care and, significantly, to include it in the coalition agreement for the next legislature. They also responded positively to the House’s request to “speak with one voice” at all policy levels.
Read and review
Reports, memos and videos
Participation in a working group
SGGG remains committed to improving mental health care. interested? You are invited to participate in working groups and develop constructive policy proposals. Register and apply for a job group of your choice.
