LEBANON – A national study conducted by the Institute for Development, Research, Advocacy and Applied Care (IDRAAC) revealed that Lebanon is facing a major mental health challenge, with high rates of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder among the population, following a series of successive crises, particularly the Beirut Port explosion, the economic collapse, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry, the study showed that among 1,000 participants:
• 45.3% screened positive for anxiety disorders.
• 47.8% screened positive for depression.
• 43.5% met the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• 62.8% showed indicators of at least one of the three mental health disorders.
The findings also showed that 28.1% of participants screened positive for all three disorders simultaneously: anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
The study noted that financial stress was among the main factors associated with a higher risk of mental health disorders, showing that worsening economic conditions are directly linked to increased likelihood of experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
The research was based on telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 Lebanese adults, conducted between July and September 2022, to assess the prevalence of mental health disorders following multiple overlapping traumas, most notably the 2020 Beirut Port explosion, the financial crisis, and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Researchers noted that the PTSD rates recorded in Lebanon exceed typical global rates and are closer to those observed among populations that have experienced prolonged wars and conflicts, reflecting the cumulative impact of the crises faced by the Lebanese population.
IDRAAC Executive Director Dr. George Karam said the findings reveal the scale of the challenge affecting a large number of individuals and families in Lebanon, stressing that mental health is not a luxury but a basic necessity that requires greater awareness, support, and national action.
The study is considered the first comprehensive national study on mental health disorders in Lebanon since the 2006 National Mental Health Survey, providing new indicators on the impact of multiple crises on the mental well-being of Lebanese society.
