Organizing a Workshop to launch the Wellness Project in the Field of Mental Health.

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Terre des Hommes organization to respond to needs in the field of mental health and to contribute to improving the quality of host populations, refugees, and returnees in the Hodh Charghi region, organized a workshop today, Tuesday, in Nouakchott to launch the ‘Well-being’ project.The workshop aims to enhance the capacities of institutional and community stakeholders and support them to ensure planning and monitoring of activities in the field of mental health and psychosocial support, as well as to improve the understanding of targeted populations regarding mental health.Mr. Ahl Med Zine, the acting Secretary-General of the Ministry of Health, clarified that mental health is no longer a luxury or a secondary issue in public health policies, but rather a fundamental pillar for ensuring the well-being of individuals and the stability of communities, a fact continuously affirmed by the World Health Organization and enshrined in the national strategy in the field of mental health and combating addiction.He added that the launch of this project represents a pivotal step in the process of enhancing mental health services, particularly for vulnerable groups such as refugees, returnees, and host communities who are exposed to psychological and social pressures that may worsen if not addressed systematically and collaboratively.

The study recently completed on the reality of mental health and psychosocial support in the Hodh El charghi has shown that there are significant needs and multiple gaps in the coverage of specialized mental health services, qualified human resources, and the cultural aspect in approaching mental health.In turn, the coordinator of the eastern basin cell, Mr. Cheikh Abdallah Awah, praised the efforts made by the wellness project in the eastern basin area, noting that this project falls within the framework of commitments made by the French government and contributes to several sectors, including agriculture, health, and education.He pointed out that the eastern basin region is experiencing a significant influx of refugees and Malian migrants who are suffering from difficult health conditions.For his part, the representative of the Terre des Hommes organization, Mr. Dikendi Levy, clarified that mental health and psychosocial support are not secondary in humanitarian work, but are essential for protecting children and women and addressing all issues. He indicated that the wellness project is a response based on a community approach, coordination between sectors, and strengthening institutional and local capacities.

He indicated that this workshop represents a starting point for a collective commitment towards a safer and more united Hodh El Charghi that is attentive to human suffering, thanking the French Development Agency for its continuous support, as well as technical partners and civil society representatives.For his part, the Director of the French Development Agency, Mr. Monkam Diver Ence, stated that providing support in the field of mental health means recognizing the pivotal role that mental health plays in the recovery of individuals who have been exposed to psychological trauma, noting that the project aims to support refugees, returnees, and their host communities in the Hodh El Charghi, providing them with the necessary resources for recovery.He mentioned that this project represents an extension of the support that France has provided, through the French Development Agency, to the health sector in Mauritania in recent years, particularly in the field of maternal and child health.