Morocco launches Mental Health Plan 2030 to expand psychiatric care

Morocco is preparing a major overhaul of its mental health system as authorities seek to address a longstanding shortage of funding, specialists and accessible care.

The country’s new Mental Health Plan 2030 places psychological wellbeing at the centre of the national public health agenda, presenting mental healthcare not only as a medical responsibility but also as an economic, social and human rights priority.

A significant health and economic challenge

According to figures presented by Morocco’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection, mental disorders affect around 6.5 million people in the country. Nearly two million of those affected are children and young people under the age of 25.

The economic consequences are also substantial. Mental health conditions are estimated to cost Morocco almost 64 billion dirhams annually, equivalent to around 4.8% of national GDP.

Yet mental health currently receives only about 1.2% of the country’s public health budget, with spending estimated at less than one dollar per person.

The gap between the scale of the problem and the resources devoted to it is one of the central issues addressed by the new strategy.

Limited infrastructure and shortage of specialists

Morocco’s mental healthcare system continues to face major capacity constraints. The country has approximately 6.7 psychiatric beds per 100,000 inhabitants, with significant differences between regions and infrastructure problems affecting several facilities.

Human resources are another major concern. The country has around 1.5 psychiatrists per 100,000 inhabitants, while the public sector has only 30 specialised psychologists, according to ministry figures.

Authorities estimate that these shortages contribute to an 85% treatment gap, leaving a large proportion of people with mental health conditions without adequate care.

The new strategy therefore seeks to expand both infrastructure and the specialist workforce while bringing services closer to communities.

Mental health framed as an investment

One of the most significant elements of the new plan is its economic approach to mental healthcare.

The ministry argues that investment in mental health can generate wider economic and social benefits. For every dollar invested in mental health, the average economic return is estimated at four dollars. For prevention programmes targeting adolescents and young people, the projected return could reach $94 for every dollar invested.

Beyond financial returns, the strategy links improved mental healthcare to social cohesion, equal opportunities, family resilience and the inclusion of people living with psychological disorders.

The underlying objective is to move away from treating mental health primarily as a cost and instead consider it part of Morocco’s investment in human capital.

Two years of preparation and broad consultation

The Mental Health Plan 2030 was developed over nearly two years under the coordination of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, with support from the World Health Organization.

The preparation involved 13 government departments, including the ministries responsible for justice, interior affairs, youth, solidarity, religious affairs and education.

Public institutions, civil society organisations, scientific associations, families and people using mental health services were also involved. The National Human Rights Council and the National Initiative for Human Development were among the institutions participating in the process.

The work was divided into two main stages. The first focused on assessing the country’s mental health situation through updated epidemiological information and field research. The second involved four consultation and co-development workshops before the final document was validated.

Four targets set for 2030

The strategy establishes four broad priorities.

The first focuses on reducing stigma and challenging the social taboos surrounding mental illness. Authorities also intend to improve communication and integrate psychotherapy into the package of services covered by compulsory health insurance.

The second aims to bring mental healthcare closer to international standards, with greater attention to human rights, infrastructure, staffing and access to essential medicines.

The third promotes an integrated approach covering the entire life cycle, from childhood to old age. The objective is to create greater continuity between prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.

The fourth calls for stronger governance, with interministerial coordination, evidence-based policymaking and clearly defined responsibilities.

Among the targets set for 2030 are a 10% reduction in the suicide mortality rate, bringing it to 2.7 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, as well as a 10% reduction in relapses and psychiatric readmissions.

The government also aims to increase treatment coverage by 2.5 times, reaching 38%, while reducing the prevalence of mental disorders by 10% to 15.8%.

Three pillars for expanding mental healthcare

The implementation framework is built around three strategic pillars: prevention and early detection, access to quality treatment, and social inclusion.

The healthcare pillar contains 37 operational measures. These include extending psychiatric hospital services across all provinces and prefectures, improving access to essential psychotropic medicines in primary healthcare facilities and expanding specialised consultations for both adults and children.

The strategy also calls for the creation of mother-and-child psychiatric units, with five to 10 beds in maternity hospitals and general hospitals.

Another proposed measure is a dedicated rapid-response service within the emergency medical system, described as a “psychiatric SAMU”.

Psychosocial rehabilitation facilities are also expected to be developed nationwide according to common standards.

From treatment to social reintegration

The strategy extends beyond medical care by addressing the social consequences of mental disorders.

Authorities plan to advocate for formal recognition of psychosocial disability and the rights associated with it, including access to social assistance, employment, housing and legal support.

A multisectoral programme is also planned for people living with mental disorders who face severe social vulnerability.

Cooperation with the National Human Rights Council is expected to contribute to a national strategy focused on protecting and promoting the rights of people affected by mental health conditions.

The government also intends to establish national standards covering the architectural, organisational and operational requirements of intermediate mental health facilities.

Training and long-term sustainability

The success of the strategy will depend heavily on the expansion of Morocco’s specialist workforce.

The government plans to increase training capacity for psychiatrists, child psychiatrists and specialised nurses while creating additional public-sector positions, particularly in child and adolescent psychiatry.

A national training programme for nurses will focus on priority mental health conditions and psychiatric emergencies. Certification mechanisms are also planned for professionals providing mental healthcare outside hospital settings.

The plan further addresses the financial and regulatory foundations of the system. Authorities intend to update the list of reimbursable professional services to include mental health interventions, revise reference tariffs, introduce therapeutic protocols for priority disorders and publish national guidance on psychotherapy.

A long-term test for Morocco’s health system

Mental Health Plan 2030 represents a broad attempt to reshape how Morocco approaches psychological and psychiatric care.

Its success will ultimately depend on whether the proposed investments translate into more specialists, stronger infrastructure, wider insurance coverage and services that are accessible across the country.

For the government, the objective extends beyond expanding healthcare capacity. The strategy places mental health within a broader vision of human development, social inclusion and economic resilience as Morocco looks toward 2030.