Mohammad Reza Shalbaghan, the Director General of Mental Health at the Ministry of Health, stated that new statistics show that over 25.1 percent of Iran's population suffers from psychiatric disorders. This statistic, obtained from the latest extensive national survey in 2022, is a warning sign for the state of mental health in the country.
Need for a New Mental Health Survey
Shalbaghan emphasized that given the changing social and economic conditions, it is essential to conduct a new survey in this area as soon as possible. He noted that without this survey, it is not possible to provide new statistics, and the Ministry of Health is planning for it.
Read more: Alireza Raisi: No Positive Cases of Plague Reported in Iran
Increasing Mental Health Literacy
The Director General of Mental Health at the Ministry of Health, in response to public criticisms regarding the high costs of psychiatric and psychological services, pointed out that the ministry is designing and implementing programs to facilitate access to psychological services. According to him, one of the priorities is to increase mental health literacy and awareness in this regard. Mental Health Week, which takes place from October 10 to 16, is a suitable opportunity for raising awareness in the community on this issue.
Development of Saraj Centers
Shalbaghan introduced the "Saraj" (Social Mental Health) centers that provide specialized psychiatric, psychological, and social work services. These centers are connected to the health and treatment network, and if necessary, patients are referred to these centers. Currently, 148 Saraj centers are active across the country, and this number is expected to increase to about 300 centers in the coming years.
Expanding the Number of Psychologists
The Director General of Mental Health at the Ministry of Health pointed out the country's need to increase the number of psychologists, stating that currently, 3,400 psychologists are working nationwide. Given the growing demand for psychological services, there is a necessity to expand this number. In these centers, basic services such as life skills training, parenting, and stress management are provided by psychologists.
Intersectoral Cooperation for Improving Services
Shalbaghan, referring to intersectoral cooperation for better service delivery, stated that institutions such as the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Interior, and the Welfare Organization are participating in this regard. These collaborations are considered a valuable occurrence in the country and a model for other countries.
Ultimately, these statistics and actions highlight the importance of paying attention to mental health in society and remind us of the need for comprehensive cooperation to improve individuals' mental well-being.
Read more: Dr. Alireza Raisi: Plague in Russia Has Not Yet Been Reported to the World Health Organization · Shahab Hosseini in the New Series by Ehsan Beiglari with a Change in the Fate of the Parental Home
