Queen Mathilde visited the De Vijvers care home in Gentbrugge on Tuesday to draw attention to mental health issues among the elderly, a focus of an upcoming Flemish campaign by the organisation Te Gek!?
The Royal Palace noted that mental health has been a key theme in the Queen’s activities for years, particularly in her role as an advocate for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The new campaign aims to encourage open discussions about psychological challenges faced by adults and individuals over 60, a topic often considered taboo and underreported in this demographic.
During her visit, the Queen joined several roundtable discussions with care home residents and volunteers. These conversations explored personal experiences related to mental well-being and the barriers people face when seeking help. Organisers expressed gratitude for the Queen’s presence, viewing it as a powerful step towards raising public awareness of this critical issue.
Studies show that many older adults struggle with mental health challenges, including loneliness and depressive feelings. The scale of the problem will be highlighted when fresh data is released on 23 September to officially launch the new campaign.
