In times of conflict and crisis, mental health support is not a luxury but a lifeline. This report documents the outcomes of high-level meetings held in Copenhagen on 10 and 11 December 2024, where Dr. Rabih El Chammay, Head of Lebanon’s National Mental Health Programme, met with key Nordic stakeholders to explore collaborative approaches to Lebanon’s escalating mental health crisis.
Key findings
The report highlights the catastrophic impact of recent conflicts in Lebanon, where nearly one million people were displaced by December 2024, with over 3,500 fatalities including 226 healthcare workers. Against this backdrop of compounded crises:
- Three in five people in Lebanon currently screen positive for depression, anxiety, or PTSD
- Mental health services are described as “not a luxury, but a lifeline” for affected communities
- Lebanon’s National Mental Health Programme has established foundations for sustainable, inclusive care systems despite enormous challenges
Recommendations for action
The report identifies three crucial lessons from Lebanon’s experience:
- Strong governance with technical expertise is essential for meaningful reform
- Clear strategy provides a roadmap for optimizing resources and avoiding duplication
- Using crises as opportunities to strengthen existing systems rather than creating parallel structures
Dr. El Chammay proposed a “5×5” funding model—five million USD annually for five years—to strengthen mental health systems and expand services across Lebanon.
“We are deeply grateful to all the organizations and individuals who participated in these vital discussions,” said Marie Dahl, Director of the MHPSS Collaborative. “Lebanon stands as a textbook example of how important it is to think about mental health holistically, as an ecosystem, rather than focusing on individual components in isolation. Their approach demonstrates the immense value of working closely with civil society on both strategy and implementation. This collaborative approach offers a powerful model for mental health responses globally.”
The meetings were organized by the MHPSS Collaborative in collaboration with the IASC Reference Group for MHPSS in Emergency Settings on behalf of the Nordic Network for MHPSS in Fragile and Humanitarian Settings.
Listen to our new podcast
During Dr. El Chammay’s visit, we also recorded the first episode of our new podcast series, Collaborative Conversations. In this inaugural episode, the Collaborative’s Advocacy and Communications Advisor Louise Juul Hansen sat down with Dr. Rabih El Chammay to discuss responding to Lebanon’s mental health crisis and strengthening the country’s mental health infrastructure.
The conversation provides valuable insights into how we can address the urgent mental health needs in Lebanon, where support services are critically needed but resources remain scarce.
