Main diagnoses assessed in Flemish mental health centers in Belgium 2018

Although the first aims of mental health diagnoses are to help communication between professionals and prescribing the right treatment, the share of certain diagnoses can also reveal the prevalence of certain mental issues. In 2018, a third of diagnoses made in the mental health centers in Flanders revealed depression and other mood disorders. On the other hand, for 14.3 percent of patients, the diagnosis was unknown or simply not made.

An unknown diagnosis could be related to the time needed to assess a mental disorder and, therefore, the waiting time between consultations. Ultimately, for some, having a diagnosis is reassuring and can help, while it can also be stigmatizing for others.