Community mental healthcare in Lebanon

Abstract

Lebanon is a medium-income country in the Eastern Mediterranean which has seen a surge in interest in mentalhealth over the past two decades following years of stagnation. The mental health needs of the country at primary carelevel and for severe psychiatric disorders are underserved. Political instability, chronic underfunding and widespreadstigma have all contributed to maintaining a traditional model of private clinics affiliated with inpatient and long-staypsychiatric units. A number of initiatives have recently been launched to cater for patients with psychotic disorders andalso to offer partial hospitalization for others with mood-related conditions. In parallel, the Ministry of Public Health,with international funding, has been instrumental in its efforts to standardize care at a national level, particularlyfor early detection and treatment in primary care settings. The priorities of the national mental health programmeare consistent with the global trend in shifting services to the community. Hurdles remain, in line with those facingcountries with similar socio-demographics and resources. These include limited third-party coverage of mental health,absence of training opportunities in multidisciplinary community settings and some clinicians reluctance to updatetheir ways of working. Development of a local workforce, familiar with evidence-based models of care and dedicatedto providing a patient-centred approach in the least restrictive settings, is essential for consolidating community carein Lebanon. This would be reinforced by (overdue) legislation and implementation of a mental health law.

Keywords

• community mental health
• psychiatric services
• eastern mediterranean
• lebanon
• global mental health