Mental Health: Morocco Develops Its First National Strategy

The Minister of Health and Social Protection, Amine Tahraoui, announced on Tuesday before the Chamber of Advisors the launch of the development of a national strategy on mental and psychological health in all its dimensions.

In response to a question about the situation of people with mental and psychological disorders, asked by the socialist-opposition group Ittihadie during the oral questions session, Mr. Tahraoui emphasized that the ministry is supporting the reform of the legal and regulatory framework related to mental health through the revision of the legislative framework for psychological health and the establishment of therapeutic protocols for priority disorders.

Despite constraints related to the lack of specialized human resources and their distribution, the ministry has committed to strengthening the provision of specialized care, he noted, highlighting that the number of professionals specialized in mental and psychological health reached 3,230 in 2025.

These professionals include notably 319 psychiatrists in the public sector and 274 in the private sector, in addition to 62 child psychiatrists in the public sector and 14 in the private sector, as well as 1,700 nurses specialized in mental health in the public sector.

Mr. Tahraoui also indicated that 123 budgeted positions have been reserved for the sector in 2024 and 2025, including 34 positions for psychiatrists and 89 for nurses specialized in mental health.

Furthermore, the ministry has increased the number of training places within the Higher Institutes of Nursing and Health Techniques, while coordinating with the higher education department to activate regional practical training commissions.

He added that a framework agreement signed in 2022 is being implemented to intensify training and scientific research in this field by 2030.

Mr. Tahraoui also stated that within the framework of the national multisectoral strategic plan for mental health 2030, the ministry is working to generalize integrated mental and psychological health services within public hospitals, develop outpatient psychiatric consultation units, establish psychosocial crisis management teams, and strengthen psychological and social rehabilitation services.