Mental Health in Iraq: Epidemiological Overview

The Landscape of Mental Health in Iraq: An Epidemiological Overview

• The epidemiology of mental health in Iraq is complex and concerning, shaped by ongoing conflict, displacement, poverty, and limited access to healthcare.

Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders

• The Iraq Mental Health Survey (IMHS) conducted in 2006-07 estimated that 18.8% of the population had experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lifetime.
• Anxiety disorders were the most common, affecting 13.8% of the population, followed by mood disorders (7.5%).
• Studies suggest that around 25-40% of the Iraqi population experiences significant mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Specific Mental Health Conditions

• Major depressive disorder (7.2%)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (4.6%)
• Specific phobias (4.2%)
• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) (3.7%)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Can develop after exposure to a traumatic event, causing flashbacks, nightmares, and avoidance of reminders of the trauma.

Burden of Mental Disorders

• Three of the six most severe diseases in Iraq are mental illnesses.
• Major depressive disorder is the most severe disease in Iraq.
• Mental disorders constitute three of the five biggest causes of disability in Iraq.

Burden of Mental Disorders (Cont.)

• 50% of mental health problems are established by age 14 and 75% by age 24.
• The social and economic costs of mental illness are significant, including the cost of direct care and lost productivity.

Stressors and Risk Factors

• Disruption of social networks, lack of community support, distressful personal events, human rights violations, discrimination, displacement, socio-economic deterioration, destruction of infrastructure, loss of property, and uncertainty about the future.
• Vulnerable groups: women, children, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and individuals who have experienced war trauma.

Most Affected People

• Childhood abuse, trauma, or neglect
• Family history of mental disorders
• Social isolation or loneliness
• Experiencing discrimination and stigma
• Social disadvantage, poverty
• Bereavement (losing someone close to you)
• Severe or long-term stress
• Having a long-term physical health condition
• Unemployment or losing your job
• Homelessness or poor housing
• Drug and alcohol misuse
• Domestic violence, bullying or other abuse
• Significant trauma as an adult (e.g., war)
• Physical causes (e.g., head injury, neurological condition)

Contributing Factors

• Conflict and violence: The ongoing conflict in Iraq has had a devastating impact on mental health.
• Economic hardship: Poverty and lack of access to basic necessities can exacerbate mental health issues.
• Limited access to healthcare: Mental health services in Iraq are often inadequate, with limited access to qualified professionals and medications.
• Stigma: Stigma surrounding mental illness can prevent people from seeking help.

The Mental Health Gap Action Programme (MHGAP)

• Developed to scale up care for mental disorders.
• A national policy of the integration of MHPSS in primary health care (PHC) was adopted in 2009 to fill the gap in mental health services.