50% of Morocco's Population Suffer from Mental Health Issues, Minister Reports

Rabat – Minister of Health Amine Tahraoui announced that nearly 48.9% of Moroccans are expected to face psychological disorders at some point in their lives, noting a significant public health challenge.

During a committee review of the sectoral budget at the House of Representatives, Tahraoui presented concerning statistics on the prevalence of mental health disorders in Morocco.

He said that 48.9% of Moroccans will be affected by psychological conditions at some point in their lives, including depression (26%), anxiety disorders (9%), psychotic disorders (5.6%), and schizophrenia (1%).

The minister also noted the country’s critical shortage of psychiatrists, with just one for every 100,000 people — well below the global average of 1.7. Additionally, he pointed out that Morocco’s mental health infrastructure, offering only 6.43 beds per 100,000 people, falls short of the global average of 13.3 beds.

Mental health in decline, sector set for overhaul

The minister also noted that 20% of mental health beds remain unused due to inadequate hospitalization practices, leaving many patients without proper care. He called for an update to the mental health legal framework, which has not been revised since 1959, to align with modern standards.

To address these challenges, the health ministry will be creating 108 new mental health positions for 2024 onward, Tahraoui confirmed.

He pointed out the importance of training primary healthcare professionals and adding modern psychotropic medications to the list of essential medicines.

The session also covered the ministry’s work plan for the upcoming year, including a MAD 1.9 billion ($180 million) increase in the health and social protection budget, raising it to MAD 32.6 billion ($3.2 billion).

The minister confirmed that his department would continue expanding universal social protection and medical coverage, alongside improving healthcare infrastructure. This includes the ongoing rehabilitation of nearly 1,400 primary healthcare facilities across 12 regions and strengthening the sector’s human resources.

Additionally, 2025 Finance Bill anticipates the addition of 6,500 new positions to enhance the sector’s capacity.