Belgian self-employed depression disability surges 65% since 2021

New Belgian data shows long-term disability due to depression or burnout rose 32.3% overall since 2021, with self-employed workers hit hardest: +12.8% year-on-year and +65.1% over four years, versus +30.7% for employees. The trend signals a growing mental-health burden among independents, who make up ~15% of the workforce, with implications for labor supply and social security costs.