Strengthening mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies across the Eastern Mediterranean Region -By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh

As emergencies continue to affect millions across the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, demand for mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) is growing. WHO is urging Member States to accelerate implementation of the Regional action plan for mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies, 2024–2030 and make MHPSS an integral part of emergency preparedness, response and recovery.

During the virtual week held ahead of the 73rd session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, the discussion on the Regional action plan for mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies, 2024–2030, highlighted progress made, gaps that need to be bridged in MHPSS capacities and resources, and practical lessons from countries’ experiences.

The WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region is one of the world’s most emergency-affected regions. In 2026, WHO is responding to 14 graded emergencies across the Region, of which 8 are classified as Grade 3.

The escalation of violence in the Middle East since early 2026 has evolved into a multi-country health emergency, driving mass casualties and displacement, placing already fragile health systems under severe pressure, increasing public health risks and disrupting access to essential health services across in the Region.

An estimated 117 million people in the Region require humanitarian assistance, while the Region hosts 46% of the world’s internally displaced people and is home to 3 of the world’s largest displacement crises.

The need for MHPSS is becoming increasingly urgent. During the session, WHO stressed that MHPSS must be integrated into preparedness, response and recovery as an essential health service.

Emergencies occurring in the Region are contributing to a growing burden of mental, neurological and substance use conditions. Mental health conditions affect an estimated 15.7% of people in the Region, which is above the global average. In addition, persistent shortages of human, financial and institutional resources continue to limit access to care for the communities that need it, with treatment gaps reaching up to 90% in some low- and middle-income countries.

The discussion stressed the need to put the regional action plan into practice and to strengthen resilient communities and health systems that can respond to growing MHPSS needs. WHO urged Member States to: integrate MHPSS into national emergency preparedness and response plans and/or disaster risk management plans; ensure predictable financing; build the local evidence needed to guide action; empower and engage affected communities and people with lived experience.
Ensuring the availability of and access to MHPSS is critical to protecting the well-being of individuals and communities and to building resilient health systems in countries of the Region.