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Anxiety and depression

  1. Key messages
  2. The prevalence of anxiety and depression from 2020 onwards
  3. The prevalence of anxiety and depression in 2018
  4. Read more

1. Key messages

  • The crises that our society has been going through since the start of the pandemic in 2020 are affecting a large number of people.
  • While around one person in ten had anxiety and/or depressive disorders in 2018, these disorders affected almost one person in four at the time of the peaks in contamination and the strengthening of measures.
  • Some people are affected more than others, such as women, young people, and people in precarious situations.

2. The prevalence of anxiety and depression from 2020 onwards

On the dashboard of Sciensano, you can find dynamic data visualizations about mental health during the COVID-19 crisis.

During the COVID-19 crisis, there was a significant rise in anxiety disorders and depressive disorders, particularly during peaks in contamination and the implementation of strict containment measures. In December 2020, 23% of the population suffered from anxiety disorders and 22% from depressive disorders.

Although a decrease has been observed in 2022, with anxiety and depressive disorders affecting 15% of the population in June and 19% in October, and 13% in June and 17% in October; these figures are still higher than those for 2018, when 11% of the population suffered from anxiety disorders and 9% from depressive disorders. It should be noted that in 2022, despite the announcement of the end of the COVID-19 crisis, other major crises emerged, such as the war in Ukraine and its economic consequences.

The data collected from 2023 onwards indicate a gradual decline in these problems among the population. In June 2023, 18% and 15% of people had anxiety and depressive disorders respectively. Unfortunately, in November 2023, anxiety and depressive disorders rose again, to 20% and 18% respectively. Anxiety disorders affect more women (20%) than men (19%) while depressive disorders affect more men (19%) than women (17%).

Percentage of the population aged 18 and over presenting anxiety or depressive disorders in the health surveys (COVID-19 and BELHEALTH), compared with the health interview survey 2018, Belgium, 2023
Source: COVID-19 health surveys, BELHEALTH and HIS 2018, Sciensano [1,3-15]

In Belgium, the groups most at risk of developing anxiety and depression disorders include women, young adults aged between 18 and 29, people with lower education, people living alone with children, and residents of the Walloon Region.

In 2023, there was an increase in anxiety and depressive disorders among men (except in the 65+ age group), particularly among men aged 30-49 and 50-64. In November 2023, among men, the percentage recorded for the 50-64 age group was the highest since the surveys began. Anxiety and depressive disorders generally decrease with age. Nevertheless, in November 2023, men aged 50-64 were more likely to suffer from anxiety than men aged 30-49.

In November 2023, anxiety disorders have increased among young women (18-29) since the last wave in June 2023. Depressive disorders have also increased among women aged 30-49 and are higher than among young women (18-29). 

  • Men
  • Women

Percentage of men aged 18 and over presenting anxiety disorders, by age, Belgium, 2023
Source: COVID-19 health surveys, and BELHEALTH, Sciensano [1,3-10, 12-15]

Percentage of women aged 18 and over presenting anxiety disorders, by age, Belgium, 2023
Source: COVID-19 health surveys, and BELHEALTH, Sciensano [1,3-10, 12-15]

  • Men
  • Women

Percentage of men aged 18 and over presenting depressive disorders, by age, Belgium, 2023
Source: COVID-19 health surveys, and BELHEALTH, Sciensano [1,3-10, 12-15]

Percentage of women aged 18 and over presenting depressive disorders, by age, Belgium, 2023
Source: COVID-19 health surveys, and BELHEALTH, Sciensano [1,3-10, 12-15]

3. The prevalence of anxiety and depression in 2018

Women present more often anxiety and depressive disorders compared to men

Based on these psychometrics questionnaires, in 2018, 11.2% of the Belgian population aged 15 and over presented an anxiety disorder and 9.4% presented a depressive disorder. For both disorders, women had a higher prevalence (14.2% for anxiety and 10.7% for depression) than men (7.9% for anxiety and 8% for depression).

  • Anxiety disorders
  • Depressive disorders

Prevalence of anxiety disorders by age and sex, Belgium, 2018
Source: Health Interview Survey, Sciensano, 2018 [11]

Prevalence of depressive disorders by age and sex, Belgium, 2018
Source: Health Interview Survey, Sciensano, 2018 [11]

The trend shows that anxiety remains high over time, while depression returns to its pre-2013 level

The prevalence of anxiety disorders increased among people of both sexes in 2013 compared with previous years, and this increase was maintained in 2018.

The prevalence of depressive disorders also increased in 2013 among people of both sexes. Subsequently, in 2018, the pre-2013 figures were repeated, with a clearer drop among women than among men between these two years. It should be noted, however, that the questionnaires used to assess the presence of anxiety and depression were different in 2018 than in previous surveys. Consequently, trends should be interpreted with caution.

The Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region have a higher prevalence compared to the Flemish Region

The Walloon Region had a higher prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders compared to the Brussels Capital Region and the Flemish Region and the Brussels Capital Region had a higher prevalence compared to the Flemish Region.

Between 2008 and 2013, the prevalence of anxiety disorders increased in all regions. Between 2013 and 2018, it continued to rise in the Walloon region, especially among women but also among men, whereas this was not the case in the other regions.

Since 2001, depressive disorders among women have been less frequent in the Flemish Region than in the Brussels-Capital Region and the Walloon Region. This trend has also been observed among men since 2008. 

  • Men
  • Women

Prevalence of anxiety disorders in men in Belgium and its regions, 2001-2018b
b break in series, change of instrument
Source: Own calculations based on Health Interview Survey, Sciensano, 2001-2018 [11]

Prevalence of anxiety disorders in women in Belgium and its regions, 2001-2018b
b break in series, change of instrument
Source: Own calculations based on Health Interview Survey, Sciensano, 2001-2018 [11]

  • Men
  • Women

Prevalence of depressive disorders in men in Belgium and its regions, 2001-2018b
b break in series, change of instrument
Source: Own calculations based on Health Interview Survey, Sciensano, 2001-2018 [11]

Prevalence of depressive disorders in women in Belgium and its regions, 2001-2018b
b break in series, change of instrument
Source: Own calculations based on Health Interview Survey, Sciensano, 2001-2018 [11]

People in the group with the lowest level of education were more likely to have an anxiety or depressive disorder

There is a strong socio-economic gradient in the prevalence of mental health disorders. After age-adjustment, anxiety disorders were 2.3 times more frequent in people from the lowest educational group compared to the highest educational group. Depressive disorders were 3 times more frequent in people from the lowest educational group compared to the highest educational group.

Prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders by educational level, Belgium, 2018
Source: Own calculations based on Health Interview Survey, Sciensano, 2018 [11]

4. Read more

View the metadata for this indicator

HISIA: Interactive Analysis of the Belgian Health Interview Survey

If you are in distress or in need of emotional/psychological support, do not hesitate to call 02 648 40 14 for the community help service helpline, or visit the Community Help Service online.

Background

Mental health is the capacity of each of us to feel, think, and act in ways that enhance our ability to enjoy life and deal with the challenges we face. It is a positive sense of emotional and spiritual well-being that respects the importance of culture, equity, social justice, interconnections, and personal dignity [12]. Due to the high frequency of mental problems in Western societies and the significance of their costs in human, social, and economic terms, mental health is now regarded as a public health priority. Mental health particularly deteriorated during the COVID-19 crisis.

In Belgium, the Health Interview Survey is one of the main sources of systematic data on mental health parameters in the general population. During the COVID-19 crisis, regular online health surveys were organized at regular time intervals to follow the evolution of the mental health of the population.

Among the various dimensions of mental health that are monitored in this survey, we focus on the following two disorders:

However, it should be noted that the evaluation of mental health problems in the population through a health survey has a number of limitations. These are mainly related to the fact that the estimates are based on screening instruments for psychological problems and thus are not obtained by clinical diagnostic tools, which may be more nuanced. Nevertheless, the results of general population health surveys are generally in line with the findings of specific mental health surveys.

More serious mental health disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorders are not presented here. Indeed, health interview surveys are not a valid instrument to capture such complex conditions. Moreover, information about suicidal behaviours can be found on a specific page.

Definitions

GAD-7: General Anxiety Disorder 7-item
The GAD-7 is a screening tool for general anxiety disorder. Participants aged 15 and over are asked to evaluate the frequency, if ever, of experiencing 7 core symptoms in the last 2 weeks. The scores obtained allow to evaluate the symptom severity.
Anxiety disorders
Participants aged 15 and over with a score of 10 or over out of 21 in the GAD-7 tool were considered to have an anxiety disorder.
PHQ-9: Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item depression scale
The PHQ-9 is a screening tool for major depressive disorder and other depressive disorders. Participants aged 15 and over are asked to evaluate the frequency in which they have been bothered by 9 problems in the last 2 weeks.
Depressive disorders
Participants aged 15 and over with a combination of answers meeting the criteria specific for major depressive disorder and other depressive disorders for the PHQ-9 were considered to have a depressive disorder.

References

  1. Première enquête de santé COVID-19 : résultats préliminaires. Deposit number D/2020/14.440/50. Brussels: Sciensano; 2020. doi: 10.25608/ydnc-dk63
  2. Deuxième enquête de santé COVID-19 : résultats préliminaires. Deposit number D/2020/14.440/52. Brussels: Sciensano; 2020. doi: 10.25608/rkna-ee65
  3. Troisième enquête de santé COVID-19 : résultats préliminaires. Deposit number D/2020/14.440/54. Brussels: Sciensano; 2020. doi: 10.25608/xkg3-xz50
  4. Quatrième enquête de santé COVID-19 : résultats préliminaires. Deposit number D/2020/14.440/80. Brussels: Sciensano; 2020. doi: 10.25608/jmgf-2028
  5. Cinquième enquête de santé COVID-19 : résultats préliminaires. Deposit number D/2020/14.440/96. Brussels: Sciensano; 2020. doi: 10.25608/xcxd-7784
  6. Sixième enquête de santé COVID-19 : résultats préliminaires. Deposit number D/2021/14.440/30. Brussels: Sciensano; 2021. doi: 10.25608/j877-kf56
  7. Septième enquête de santé COVID-19 : résultats préliminaires. Deposit number D/2021/14.440/50. Brussels: Sciensano; 2021. doi: 10.25608/ht7a-8923
  8. Huitième enquête de santé COVID-19 : résultats préliminaires. Deposit number D/2021/14.440/82. Brussels: Sciensano; 2021. doi: 10.25608/hqy9-m065
  9. Neuvième enquête de santé COVID-19 : résultats préliminaires. Deposit number D/2022/14.440/3. Brussels: Sciensano; 2022. doi: 10.25608/evrs-je22
  10. Dixième enquête de santé COVID-19 : résultats préliminaires. Deposit number D/2022/14.440/18. Brussels: Sciensano; 2022. doi: 10.25608/mve9-bk51
  11. Health Interview Survey, Sciensano, 1997-2018. https://www.sciensano.be/en/projects/health-interview-survey
  12. Belgian Health and Well-being Cohort (BELHEALTH) - Bulletin 1, Brussels: Sciensano; 2023. https://www.sciensano.be/en/biblio/bulletin-ndeg-1-belhealth-fr 
  13. Belgian Health and Well-being Cohort (BELHEALTH) - Bulletin 2, Brussels: Sciensano; 2023. https://www.sciensano.be/en/biblio/bulletin-ndeg-2-belhealth-fr 
  14. Belgian Health and Well-being Cohort (BELHEALTH) - Bulletin 3, Brussels: Sciensano; 2023. https://www.sciensano.be/en/biblio/bulletin-ndeg3-belhealth-fr 
  15. Belgian Health and Well-being Cohort (BELHEALTH) - Bulletin 4, Brussels: Sciensano; 2024. https://www.sciensano.be/en/biblio/bulletin-ndeg4-belhealth-fr 
  16. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/mental-health/mental-health-promotion.html

Please cite this page as: Sciensano. Mental Health: Anxiety and depression, Health Status Report, 17 Apr 2024, Brussels, Belgium, https://www.healthybelgium.be/en/health-status/mental-health/anxiety-and-depression