Talking saves lives

by Mia Atoui August 8, 2018

written by Mia Atoui August 8, 2018

The conversation around mental health in Lebanon has been ignited. While some believe we are still at the beginning of this journey, it is safe to say that the past five years—and in particular the past six months—have witnessed a dramatic change in the state of mental health awareness and resources in Lebanon. This change has come off the back of years of academic research, lobbying, awareness campaigns, and a national mental health strategy launched by the Ministry of Public Health in 2014. The concepts of mental illness and mental wellbeing are not new to Lebanon. The wars and turmoil the country has suffered have left a clear impact on the generations who lived through them, as well as those they raised. Lebanese have been using mental health services for many years, though these have been restricted to the affluent segment of the population, who can afford them and have

Mia Atoui

Mia Atoui is a Clinical Psychologist and the Co-founder and President of Embrace, a prominent mental health NGO in Lebanon. With a Master’s degree in Public Health and a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from the American University of Beirut, she has over 10 years of experience in mental health and is a published researcher. Mia has been instrumental in combating stigma, enhancing mental health awareness, and improving accessibility to care in Lebanon, working with the Ministry of Public Health and various organizations. She leads Lebanon’s National Emotional Support and Suicide Prevention Helpline (Embrace LifeLine) and trains communities and professionals in mental health and resilience.

Talking saves lives

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