Mental Health and Wellbeing Research Group

Wednesday 29 November 2023 marked a significant milestone for our research team as doctoral researcer Riet Anciaux had the opportunity to present the DIAMENT project at the first-ever research symposium organized by the Diabetes Liga. This event, dedicated to empowering individuals with diabetes, extended beyond the boundaries of medical treatment, focusing on a holistic approach to diabetes care.

Throughout the day, discussions and presentations revolved around the theme “Empowering Persons with Diabetes: A Journey Beyond Medical Treatment,” reflecting the latest advancements and interdisciplinary collaborations in diabetes research and management. It was an event that not only highlighted cutting-edge research but also underscored the importance of a comprehensive approach to diabetes, emphasizing the empowerment of those living with the condition.

We extend our gratitude to the Diabetes Liga, MENT, and VUB for their support and collaboration in making this symposium a success. The participation of our research group in such pioneering events is a testament to our commitment to advancing knowledge and interventions in the field of diabetes care.

In a recent study published in the high-quality journal Europace (Q1), Dr. Stefaan Six and colleagues have provided critical insights into the psychosocial challenges faced by patients with Brugada Syndrome (BrS), a hereditary arrhythmic disease. Utilizing a multi-instrument approach involving 209 patients, the study found elevated levels of mental distress and a higher prevalence of Type D personality among BrS patients compared to the general population. These findings highlight the urgent need to incorporate mental health screenings into the standard care protocol for BrS. The full article is available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euad205.

In recognition of World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2023, Prof. Johan Bilsen participated in the European Commission's topical conference, which focused on a comprehensive EU approach that prioritizes sound mental health for all. The event was moderated by Belle de Jong and featured high-profile speakers such as Her Majesty the Queen of the Belgians, Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, and Frank Vandenbroucke, Belgian Minister of Social Affairs. A broad range of perspectives was encapsulated in the conference, from policy makers to patient advocates, providing an interdisciplinary platform to discuss vital topics in mental health.

The 11th edition of the European Conference on Mental Health took place from September 13-15, 2023 at Ljubljana (Slovenia). 

Dr. Stefaan Six was a speaker at the conference and presented his work on "Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) on mental health and psychosocial factors in patients with Brugada syndrome". 

The Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association took place from May 20-24, 2023 at San Francisco. The theme this year was “Innovate, collaborate, motivate: charting the future of mental health”.

Dr. Lara Vesentini contributed to this international conference, by presenting two posters: “Intimate and Sexual feelings in Psychotherapy: Educational Topic or Still Taboo?” and “Managing Romantic and Sexual Feelings Towards Clients in the Psychotherapy Room in Flanders (Belgium)”.

We are pleased to share that MENT has recently published an article in the esteemed Journal of Mental Health (Q2). Titled 'Intimate and Sexual Feelings in Psychotherapy: Educational Topic or Still Taboo?', this work delves into an important aspect of psychotherapy. The study's results reveal that a significant number of psychotherapists have expressed that addressing intimate and sexual feelings towards their clients was not adequately covered during their training, and the topic continues to carry a certain level of taboo. For those interested in exploring this topic further, we invite you to access the article through the following link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09638237.2023.2210652

From 2 till 6 May the 17th edition of the World Congress on Public Health will be held in Rome, Italy. Check the program at https://wcph.org/

Our very own Prof. Johan Bilsen will be chairing several sessions at the conference and is looking forward to the occasion. Make sure to stay tuned for more news to come...

weKONEKT.brussel is the VUB’s initiative to connect our university, and its students and staff, to Brussels. Through various initiatives and events they aim to foster this bond. One of their initiatives are the weKONEKT.wellbeing tables in which they bring together students to discuss and exchange topics regarding wellbeing. This year, the VUB organized these tables for the third time on 28 March 2023 together with Pilar in the framework of their ASAP Festival The sexual feeling/healing. Dr. Lara Vesentini and Prof. Johan Bilsen were invited as experts to join students in their conversations and help to guide them.