Roya News | Prince Hassan: An investment in mental health is an investment in human capital

On Thursday, His Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal supported the launch of the Doctors Without Borders conference titled “Renewing Hope: Mental Health in the Middle East,” coinciding with World Mental Health Day, to discuss pressing issues in mental health care in the area. .

During the first conference entitled “Pathways to Progress: Addressing Barriers to Mental Health Services in the Middle East,” His Majesty emphasized the importance of partnership between actors to promote mental health as an integral part of comprehensive health care. He pointed out that investing in mental health is an investment in human capital, asking citizens to turn it into partners by strengthening the pillars of human dignity such as empowerment and self-reliance.

His Majesty spoke of the impact of wars, especially in Gaza, on the right to life, and stressed the need to care for 17,000 orphaned children in Gaza, stressing the importance of work for future generations and support those who work on the land.

His Majesty also referred to the World Health Organization’s 2020 report, which revealed a 30% increase in psychological disorders due to the Corona pandemic, adding that 25% of refugees and host communities Jordan suffers from mental problems.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Firas Al-Hawari, confirmed that the Ministry is paying more attention to mental health due to the increase in non-communicable mental diseases, pointing out the challenges related to the cost of treatment, lack of experts, and lack of infrastructure, as well as social stigma.

For her part, the representative of the World Health Organization in Jordan, Dr. Jamila Al-Raabi, called for the introduction of psychological care services in emergency sectors, noting that there are a billion people throughout the world suffering from mental problems.

The President of the University of Jordan, Prof. Nazir Obaidat, confirmed the need for qualifications and training of medical staff and nurses in the field of mental health, pointing out the university’s efforts to introduce special courses in this field.

The conference discussed a number of topics, including the development of mental health services in the Middle East, and the role of academic institutions in developing mental health care. Prince Hassan also opened an art exhibition of patient work at the MSF Center for Reconstructive Surgery in Amman.