Severe shortage of psychiatrists leaves thousands without help

Morocco’s mental health sector is facing significant challenges due to a severe shortage of professionals in the field. Currently, there are only 343 psychiatrists working in both the public and private sectors, which is equivalent to one doctor per 100,000 people.

In comparison, the global average is 1.7 doctors per 100,000 people. This shortage means that only 40% of Moroccans with mental health problems are seen by fewer than 400 psychiatrists.

In an intervention in the Upper House on Tuesday,  Khaled Ait Taleb, the Health Minister, stated that there are 2,330 beds available in mental health facilities across the country. However, the scarcity of psychiatrists in the public sector has resulted in higher prices for care services in private clinics, making mental health care inaccessible for many Moroccans.

To address this issue, the government has announced plans to improve the mental health law and create a national mental health strategy with the assistance of the World Health Organization between 2024 and 2030.

The Health Ministry has also committed to training ten pediatric psychiatrists this year, with ten more planned to be trained each year after that. Additionally, 185 nurses and 30 psychiatrists will receive training annually.

Despite these efforts, the shortage of mental health professionals remains a pressing issue. Fatima L’Hassani, a representative of the National Assembly of Independents, has called for the distribution of the existing human resources to different areas of the country to achieve territorial justice.

For example, while Tangier has 34 psychiatrists, its neighboring cities suffer from a severe lack of these specialists.

According to former Health Minister Anas Doukkali, 40% of Moroccans suffer from psychological and mental illnesses, with 26% suffering from depression, 9% from anxiety disorders, 5% from mental disorders, and 1% from schizophrenia.

The shortage of mental health professionals is also evident in Moroccan prisons, with only one psychologist on staff for every 1,649 prisoners, according to a report by the Center for Human Rights and Democracy.

The Moroccan government has recently placed mental health at the top of its list of priorities and has allocated more resources and financial positions for the sector. The Health Ministry has set aside a budget of more than 83 million for mental health medications in 2022.

The Ministry also plans to construct three mental health facilities with a total of 120 beds in Agadir, Kenitra, and Beni Mellal, and to set up integrated psychiatric services in public hospitals.