A recent international report has confirmed that more than a quarter of Yemenis suffer from mental disorders as a result of the multiple stresses and traumas stemming from the ongoing conflict in the country for nine years. The organization Action Against Hunger (AAH) stated in a recent report: "As nine years of conflict continue, today more than a quarter of Yemenis, equivalent to over eight million people, suffer from mental disorders such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia."
The report added that surveys conducted by the organization and other data confirmed that the continuation of the conflict, forced displacement, deterioration of the economic situation, poverty, and food shortages exacerbate the prevalence of mental disorders, affecting all communities and social groups in the country.
The organization emphasized that the weakness of healthcare in the country, particularly in the psychological field, is one of the reasons behind the increasing prevalence of these disorders. It stated: "Despite the magnitude of this public health crisis, there is no national mental health program in Yemen, while only 10% of primary healthcare facilities in the country have staff trained to identify or treat mental disorders."
The report clarified that the fear caused by social stigma towards those suffering from these disorders hinders and delays their access to appropriate treatment. Additionally, the devaluation of professions related to mental health issues does not encourage students to pursue training in this field, which is necessary to help address these increasingly widespread cases.
