The Public Mental Health Fund was established to help shape a society in which psychological vulnerability is discussable, and in which mental healthcare is accessible, timely, and tailored to the actual needs of the population.
Today, many people wait too long to seek help – and those who do take the step often encounter lengthy waiting lists. This is largely due to an unbalanced use of care: some people receive too much care, others too little. The Public Mental Health Fund aims to help correct this mismatch. That is why we focus on data, innovation, and collaboration:
What does the Public Mental Health Fund do?
- We systematically map out mental health needs and the care available in the province of Antwerp (see here and here).
- We investigate how waiting lists arise and persist, and what impact they have on care users and their loved ones.
- We are building a smart care database – www.ipsy.care – to better monitor care needs and care utilization.
- We support innovative practices that detect needs faster and guide people specifically towards help, for example www.cavasa.be .
- We investigate how care for people with complex psychological care needs can be structurally improved.
- We strengthen training programs at the University of Antwerp (general practitioner training, master of epidemiology, postgraduate nursing) with insights from public mental health.
- We advise primary care zones, mental health networks, and policymakers based on scientific insights and evidence.
Partners
The Public Mental Health Fund works closely with a strong network of care partners: Zorggroep Multiversum, Bethanië mental health care, ZAS, OPZ Geel, and UPC Duffel. The fund's chair is Prof. Kris Van den Broeck(psychologist), and the promoters are Prof. Marianne Destoop (psychiatrist, CAPRI) and Prof. Johan Wens (general practitioner, FAMPOP).
