The World Health Organization revealed that about 25% of the Yemeni population suffers from psychological disorders that require intervention and care.

She added in a statement issued yesterday, Monday: “The conflict and prolonged humanitarian crisis in Yemen have caused severe damage to the physical and mental health of the population.”

She continued: “It is estimated that one in four people in Yemen suffers from psychological disorders that require intervention.”

This high burden of disease - coupled with stigma and myths, a shortage of psychiatrists and psychologists, and facilities in desperate need of repair - creates persistent barriers to accessing care.

She stressed that strengthening mental health care represents a major area of ​​work for the World Health Organization as part of the Emergency Human Capital Project with the World Bank.

The representative of the World Health Organization in Yemen, Dr. Arturo Besigian, said: “Thanks to the support of the World Bank through the primary health care project, we launched a national mental health strategy and began monitoring mental disorders using the DHIS2 system.”

He added: “We trained more than 150 health workers at the facility and district levels to improve mental health care, and established 19 clinics focusing on community care. Recently, we rehabilitated key areas in 3 psychiatric hospitals.” 

The statement indicated that the rehabilitation of major areas in Aden Psychiatric Hospital, Al Talh Hospital in Saada, and Taiz Psychiatric Hospital has been completed, in line with the environmental and social management plans approved by the World Bank.

For his part, Dr. Abdel Raqeeb Mahrez, Director General of Therapeutic Medicine at the Ministry of Public Health and Population, praised the rehabilitation process and said: “I greatly appreciate the support of the World Health Organization in rehabilitating hospitals and providing them with medical supplies, fuel, and training.”

He added: “This support has achieved positive results in improving medical services, and we would like to thank the World Health Organization and the World Bank for the excellent cooperation.”