Report: Moroccan youth face growing threats from suicide, drugs, and irregular migration

The Moroccan League for the Defense of Human Rights has warned that the suicide rate among Moroccan youth is on the rise, while drug abuse in recent years has become one of the most dangerous scourges undermining their potential and threatening their future.

The League also highlighted the growing trend of irregular migration among young people, urging the launch of a “Safe Migration Program” through seasonal visas.

Suicide:

In a recent report titled “The State of Youth Rights in Morocco,” the Moroccan League stressed that the suicide rate among young people in Morocco is increasing.

The report pointed out that, although numbers vary from one organization to another and the Ministry of Health itself admits it has no precise data, especially when it comes to young people, the League’s examination of the available evidence paints a worrying picture.

These figures, the same source continues, highlight “the urgent need to strengthen mental health services, provide psychological support for young people, and work toward eliminating the stigma surrounding mental illness.”

It noted that, even as awareness of mental health grows, Morocco’s mental health services and infrastructure are still far from sufficient, adding that in April, the Health Minister told Parliament that the country has just 319 psychiatrists working in the public sector.

The League stressed that Morocco falls far short of the WHO’s recommended minimum of 15.3 psychiatrists per 10,000 people, saying that “this severe shortage leaves many young Moroccans without the mental health care they need, worsening their psychological struggles.”

Addiction:

The report also warned that drug use has become one of the most dangerous threats to young Moroccans in recent years, undermining their potential and future.

According to the High Commission for Planning, 9.4% of youth aged 15–24 reported having used cannabis at least once in 2023.

Citing the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s 2025 report, the source highlighted troubling shifts in drug use patterns in Morocco, especially among young people.

The recent Economic and Social Council report also noted that Morocco has 6 million smokers, including half a million minors, and 3.3 million people engaged in gambling, 40% of whom are at serious risk of addiction.

The League argued that these figures underline the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to addiction, focusing on prevention, treatment, and reintegration rather than relying solely on punitive measures.

Call for safe migration:

The report also pointed out that irregular migration is a growing and complex social phenomenon, especially among young people, driven by economic, social, and psychological factors.

It reflects the frustration of youth facing limited opportunities at home, pushing them to risk their lives in search of an uncertain future, the same source added.

Citing official and international data, the report noted that over 75,000 attempts at irregular migration from Morocco to Europe were intercepted in 2023, rising to 78,685 in 2024, which represents a 4.6% increase.

The League highlighted the root causes as unemployment, social exclusion, limited prospects, and widespread frustration.

It stressed that measures taken by the Moroccan authorities to prevent irregular migration do not address these underlying issues.

The League called for a comprehensive approach combining security, social development, and real alternatives for youth within Morocco.

To address the problem, the source recommended a “Safe Migration Program” with seasonal visas, creating legal channels for migration.

It also suggested publishing an annual migration index in Parliament and investing in youth entrepreneurship and economically vulnerable regions through sustainable projects in agriculture and green and blue economies.