VUB expands support for students in psychological difficulty

The mental well-being of students is a top priority at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). By offering diversified and layered support, it provides every student with the appropriate help to enhance their resilience and mental well-being and thus maximise their chances of academic success. In the coming academic year, the university's efforts include gatekeeper training for faculty, services and student associations, as it aims to evolve into a community of caring where everyone - student or lecturer, student association or welfare provider - understands and can fulfil their role. From 2019 to 2021, the number of students who accessed the free psychological support offered by VUB increased each year. In 2019, 2,520 VUB students received guidance from a student psychologist; in 2020 the number was 3,283 and in 2021 it grew to more than 3,700. In 2022, there was a distinct turnaround, with the number falling to 2,834. According to Rebecca Léonard, student psychologist and head of Student Support at VUB, this indicates that the taboo around psychological help is disappearing.