World Health Day 2022: AMA supports making mental health a global priority

Studies show that hundreds of millions of people around the world live with some kind of mental health disorder, equating to around 10 percent of the global population.

This year, the World Health Organisation’s designated theme for the national day is ‘making mental health a global priority’.

The staggering statistics on mental health disorders show how much of an important issue it is, despite being a taboo in many communities around the world.

There are various factors which can contribute to a decline in someone’s mental health and wellbeing, from a difficult financial situation, to health inequality, conflict and violence.

According to the World Health Organisation, depression is also a leading cause of suicide, which contributes to over 700,000 deaths each year.

Those who have been displaced or forced to flee from conflict often experience extreme stress or PTSD, and are more prone to suffering from mental health disorders.

Hussain Choonara, AMA’s regional director, believes that supporting vulnerable peoples’ mental health and well-being should be a priority.

“If you think about mental health in the context of the nourishment of a child, and think about them focusing on their future, you can see that they wake up every day with a struggle to search for food,” he said.

“In Lebanon’s refugee camps we met a lady who was on oxygen and her daughter had cerebral palsy and her ten year old son was the one looking after the family. All of these factors will contribute to the decline of that child’s mental health,” he added.

AMA has been working hard to support children suffering from mental health disorders and PTSD, particularly in Lebanon, which has become home to hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees in recent years.

Currently, a psycho-social centre called Basamat has been established in Lebanon by AMA, which provides trauma counseling and mental health support to refugees, both for children and their parents.

“We see many children who have experienced trauma after fleeing from their homelands, this includes in Lebanon and Afghanistan, as well as many other countries,” explains Choonara.

In Afghanistan, AMA sponsored schools also provide mental health services for students, ensuring they are able to express their feelings to a trained and licensed professional who can help them.

At AMA, we are committed to supporting those suffering with mental health disorders, through providing therapy, psychological support and the provision of basic human needs and services.