Two years ago, FPSC identified the importance of working for the mental health sector. The professionals of this sector not only have an important role on people health but also on their protection.
The interdisciplinary work is very important. Social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists usually meet up to discuss about the cases and they get involved with the community in order to be closer to the people and help them.
Lebanon has only 70 psychiatrists. There are few regarding the needs of the country and the services cannot cope with the large number of refugees who have arrived in recent years. Recently, the Ministry of Health launched its strategy for the following five years and FPSC has collaborated in its strategic design.
At present, FPSC is implementing in Bekaa – the area with the largest number of refugees in Lebanon – a mental health project. It is funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID ). This project consists in setting up a mental health clinic, distributing psychotropic medication, developing crisis management protocols for the country and giving primary care courses in mental health.
The majority of the associations that provide these mental health services have only one psychiatrist every 15 days. FPSC has one psychiatrist three days per week and its appointment book is completed. Thanks to coordination groups of United Nations and the Lebanese government , the associations are in constant contact and work together in order to help more effectively. The associations relate the cases between them and for some of those, they make teams. On regards to the mental health clinic, the team is formed since its beginnings, by FPSC and Doctors of the World. Its work is defined by an exchange of experiences along with joint mobilization of resources for the sake of giving aid most effectively.
Harsh cases are existing though, especially when the situation makes the patient raise questions about ending his or her live. Nevertheless, it is remarkable to notice the improvement that people register thanks to the treatment. A good team work, not only save lives but also make people happier.