October 10, like every year, is World Mental Health Day. "This year is a day of reflection and assessment. But above all, it must be a day of commitment by all the actors concerned to meet the challenges that we must face together to make quality health care accessible," underlines the Ministry of Public Health.

Data from the Mental Health Unit (USM) and the Directorate of Epidemiology, Laboratories and Research in Haiti, show a "clear increase in signs of depression, anxiety in the population and a percentage considerable of patients with suicidal thoughts [...] This increase is believed to be partly due to the Covid-19 epidemic and partly to the socio-political and economic situation of the country" indicates the Ministry.

Throughout this week, actions aimed at raising awareness and informing the population about mental disorders and their impact on the socio-economic development of the population will be organized by the USM and its partners.

HL/ HaitiLibre