Health and Population Office in Marib governorate revealed that “field reports have recorded approximately 35,000 mental health cases” in the governorate, according to a report published by Yemen Monitor news website.
The Director General of office Dr. Ahmed Al-Obadi, told “Yemen Monitor” that mental health situation in Marib and other governorates in Yemen requires urgent action to provide necessary support for psychological and social specialists in hospitals and schools, in addition to strategic proposals including “opening a university major in psychiatry at the University of Saba Region, and establishing a specialized hospital that provides integrated mental health care services.”
The United Nations and international organizations estimate that up to 20% of the population in conflict areas in Yemen may suffer from mild to moderate mental disorders, and about 3-4% may suffer from severe disorders. Given that Marib’s population exceeds two million, the recorded figure of 35,000 cases represents the “tip of the iceberg”.
In the same context, the psychiatrist in Marib, Dr. Mahyoub Al-Mekhalfi, confirmed that the trauma resulting from war and displacement has “left deep psychological effects,” requiring balanced professional intervention focusing on psychosocial support.
Al-Mekhalfi called for “spreading a culture of mental health awareness and training local cadres on emergency intervention mechanisms,” emphasizing the necessity of “combating the societal stigma” associated with mental disorders, to enhance social cohesion and the community’s ability to adapt.
Psychological pressure is not limited to the direct trauma of war but is exacerbated by the severe economic downturn. The loss of livelihoods, unemployment, and rising prices represent continuous daily pressures that increase levels of anxiety and depression among families, especially among breadwinners and mothers.
It is worth noting that Marib, which was once a relatively small city, has witnessed a massive population inflation exceeding its service capacity by more than 400%, leading to unprecedented pressure on the exhausted infrastructure (water, electricity, health, education). This environmental and service pressure directly reflects on the mental health of the population.
Amid the ongoing threats posed by the war, mental health remains one of the forgotten fronts, no less dangerous than any military front, where the safety of mind and psyche is the cornerstone of any future individual or societal recovery and stability for Yemen.