When asked to rate their satisfaction with their lives, Flemish people gave themselves an average score of 7.3 out of 10 in a recent survey of 4,000 adults by Belgium's public health institute Sciensano shows. Three in ten people report poor mental health.
Just under one in five (18.6%) Flemish people rate their life a nine or more out of ten. Just over seven in ten placed themselves in the "moderate life satisfaction" category with a score between six and eight. Just under 10% of participants indicated a score lower than six.
But it's not always rosy in the prosperous Belgian region: those who are less educated or struggle to make ends meet with their household income are more likely to report poor mental health.
Seven in ten of those who report poor mental health have already sought help. They also indicated that talking to their own family or doctor was usually the first step. The threshold for talking about issues, however, seems to be higher for men and the over-55s.
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Last year, just under 50% of the Flemish population tried to improve their mental health; about half indicated that they intend to do so next year. However, the majority of those who indicated they want to improve their mental health are unsure whether they will manage.
Key aspects for mental wellbeing are: "being physically healthy" (63.7%); "family and/or close friends to discuss problems with" (56.6%); and "being in control of your own life" (38.8%).
Over 92% of participants said that they think teaching about mental health in schools is important. Roughly the same majority also think it is important to encourage media to provide messages showing a realistic and healthy body image.
