NNA — Under the patronage and presence of His Excellency the Minister of Public Health, Dr Firass Al-Abiad, and His Excellency Mr. Hervé Magro, Chargé d'Affaires of the French Embassy in Lebanon, the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Lebanon and with support from the Agence française de développement (AFD), officially launched the National Mental Health Strategy for Lebanon (2024-2030). The event took place at the École Supérieure des Affaires (ESA) in Beirut.
Minister of Public Health Dr. Firass Al-Abiad emphasized in his speech during the meeting that despite the country's scarcity of resources and challenging circumstances, all efforts have been directed toward creating and implementing a national mental health strategy in Lebanon over the past ten years. The Ministry of Public Health looks forward to continuing the collaboration with all stakeholders to implement the new strategy.
Ambassador Hervé Magro highlighted that "the new national mental health strategy in Lebanon is based on principles and valuesthat we share: the universality of access to care, the dignity and rights of patients, and the importance of prevention and education in the field of mental health".
Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar, acting WHO representative in Lebanon, stated that the strategy serves as a roadmap, addressing all the building blocks of the mental health system and aligning with national priorities. It integrates evidence-based actions that focus on promoting and empowering individuals, capacity building, improving access to high-quality mental health care, including prevention of harmful practices, enhancing the availability of data and research, and establishing legal frameworks and policies.
Dr. Rabih Chammay, Head of the National Mental Health Programme in Lebanon, presented a detailed overview of the National Mental Health Strategy for Lebanon 2024-2030. He highlighted the key pillars under implementation and stressed that enhancing mental health during crises is a top priority. The NMHP looks forward to collaborating with all partners to continue working towards reforming the mental health system, ensuring that every individual in Lebanon can access high-quality mental health services within their geographical proximity and at minimal cost.
The event commenced with welcoming remarks by Mr Maxence Duault, General Director of École Supérieure des Affaires, represented by Ms. Rana Jreissati Rizk, who stated that ESA's commitment to supporting the implementation of the national strategy stems from a deep conviction that success can be achieved together, even amidst challenges. ESA harnessed all available resources and expertise to contribute significantly to each phase of this initiative.
Human rights activist and President of the Justice for Mental Health Association, Ms. Sasha Hajj Assaf, expressed her commitment to working collaboratively to ensure that every mental health service user in Lebanon enjoys their dignity and human rights.
During the meeting, the Lebanese Minister of Public Health received an award from the World Health Organization representative after winning the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force Award for Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Control and Mental Health in 2023 in recognition of their efforts on "Step by Step" program. The Minister of Public Health then presented an award to the National Mental Health Programme, which worked closely with the World Health Organization on the development, testing, and expansion of the 'Step by Step' program, an evidence-based, proven, free digital self-help intervention for depression.
A report on the effectiveness of mental health investment in Lebanon was also presented during the event.
For more information about the National Mental Health Strategy and to explore available mental health services and resources, click this link: NMHP (nmhp-lb.com)
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