The Community Help Service (CHS) is prominently featured in a newspaper article this week as a key mental health resource for residents and expats in Brussels, especially those without Belgian health insurance or fluency in French or Dutch. Link to article here .
The Brussels Times article highlights the many challenges people face when seeking mental health care in Belgium, and outlines a range of accessible options, with CHS standing out for its unique support in English.
The article explained that while Belgium offers both public and private mental health services without the need for a GP referral access can be uneven. Public services are often overbooked with long wait times, while private therapy can be costly. To fill this gap, the article points to community-based services like CHS that are both affordable and accessible.
CHS is singled out for its 24/7 confidential English-language Helpline (02 648 40 14), which offers immediate emotional support. In addition to the Helpline, CHS runs a Mental Health Services Centre staffed by experienced psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists who provide a wide range of services tailored to the international community.
For those with Belgian health insurance, the article notes, some sessions may be partially reimbursed—particularly for children and young adults. But for those without coverage, CHS remains a trusted and essential point of contact, offering professional, culturally sensitive care when it’s needed most.
The Brussels Times article offers further guidance on mental health access in the city, including information on specialised helplines and support groups.
