Support Groups: Alcoholics Anonymous, Drug, Cancer, HIV

Below is information on the various support organisations and helplines in Brussels. While some have English-speaking staff and volunteers, there is no guarantee that English will be spoken.

The Social and Psychological Health website for Belgium has information on a whole range of support groups and associations. It includes mental health centres and groups, rape and victim support centres, associations for parents of disturbed and violent children, family planning clinics and a host of other organisations.

A range of services are also offered in English by the Community Help Service – CHS. 

• This includes a 24 hour crisis helpline in English -Tel: 02 648 40 14
• At: Bd de la Cambre 33, 1000 Brussels
  Tel: 02 647 67 80
  e-mail 
  Website 

The Brussels official website also has an emergency and support groups section.

• For a list of groups: Click here (in French) or here (in Dutch)

Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous in Belgium has a website with lists of all the meetings throughout the country. It offers support via telephone plus meetings. Some of the meetings are in English.

• Tel: 02 513 23 36
  For details of meetings for English speakers: Click here

Drug Abuse

• 24 hour helpline Tel: 02 227 52 52

Infor Drogues has information on drugs, abuse and addiction.

• Infor Drogues
  At: Rue du Marteau 19, 1000 Brussels

De Duglijn has information and advice for addicts. 

• At: Vanderlindenstraat 15, 1030 Brussels
  Tel: 07 815 10 20 (Tuesday to Friday from 10:00-20:00)
  Website (in Dutch)

HIV/AIDS

Aide Info SIDA is an organisation offering support and information on AIDS. 

• Tel: 0800 20 120
  Website

Cancer support

• Helpline Tel: 0800 18 888

At the same time as Belgium legalised euthanasia, it concentrated additional resources on improving palliative care. The Foundation Against Cancer in Belgium is the national cancer association and can provide help and information to patients and their families.

• The Foundation has an English speaker who can help patients and families: Click here

WE CARE is an English-speaking support group for women with cancer

• Tel: 02 757 06 21
  e-mail

The Association Continuing Care (Association Pluraliste des Soins Palliatifs de Bruxelles Capitale (For French speakers)) can provide help at home to cancer patients.

• At: Chaussée de Louvain 479, 1030 Brussels
  Tel: 02 743 45 90
  Fax: 02 743 45 91
  e-mail
  Website (in French)

Victim Support

Rape Victims should call SOS Viol, or go in person to the office.

• Tel: 02 534 36 36
  At: Rue de Bordeaux 62A, 1060 Brussels
  Open: Monday to Friday 09:30-17:30

The main Victim Support agency is Aide aux Victimes

• At: Rue Haute 296B/314, 1000 Brussels
  Tel: 02 537 66 10 (09:00-17:00 daily)

Family Planning and Sexual Health

There are plenty of centres in and around Brussels offering support and practical help. They are open to everyone.

• For information on both family planning and sexual health in Brussels: Click here

A leaflet with all the addresses is available from COCOF:

• At: Rue des Palais 42 1030 Brussels
  Tel: 02 800 80 00

Alternatively the Fédération Laïque de Centres de Planning Familial (FLCPF) has 21 centres in the Brussels region.

• For a list of addresses: Click here

Mental Health

For help in English on a range of issues call the Community Help Service helpline.

• Tel: 02 647 67 80

For a complete list of mental health clinics and facilities in the area consult the Guide Sociale website. There are links to individual websites from the site. Addresses are given for all centres (in French).

• Suicide Prevention Centre has a 24 hour telephone helpline
• At: Place du Châtelain 46, 1050 Brussels
  Tel: 02 640 51 56
  Tel: 0800 32 123 (24 hour emergency helpline)
  Website

Similies is a volunteer organisation supporting families and friends of those with mental health problems.

• At: Rue Malibran 39, 1050 Brussels
  Tel: 02 644 44 04
  Website (in French and Dutch)

AD/HD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

English Speaking AD/HD support for adults and families in Brussels provides information on the availability of diagnosis and treatment with a schedule of regular support meetings.

• Adults: e-mail 
  Family groups: e-mail 
  Website 

Women's Support Groups

There are a number of English-speaking women's groups in the Brussels area. They offer social events, support for newcomers and many have an English language library and mother and children activities.

• American Women's Club of Brussels
  At: Avenue des Erables 1, 1640 Rhode St Genèse
  Tel: 02 358 47 53
  e-mail
  Website

• British & Commonwealth Women's Club of Brussels - BCWCB
  At: Rue au Bois 509, 1150 Brussels
  Tel: 02 772 53 13
  e-mail
  Website

• Women's International Club of Brussels
  At: Rue des Palmiers 11, 1150 Brussels
  e-mail
  Website

Children's Organisations

• Tel: 110 (Childfocus) or Tel: 103 (Children's helpline). Both numbers are free of charge.

Anyone with concerns about a child's welfare (or the child themselves) can contact SOS Enfants.

• At: CHU Saint-Pierre Bâtiment 200 - 8ème étage
  Rue Haute 322, 1000 Brussels
  Tel Emergency: 02 542 14 10
  Tel Administration: 02 535 34 25
  e-mail

Newcomer's Groups

There are a large number of these due to the many nationalities that live and work in Belgium. Many of the embassy websites also provide links to clubs and associations. Try the following:

• Australian Society

• British Community Association of Brussels

• The official website for Brussels site has a section for foreigners with links to official organisations: Click here

Further Information

• Social and Psychological Health website

• US Embassy website has a list of English speaking doctors: Click here
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page Emergency Telephone Numbers in Brussels