Mental Health

We fight injustice by making health care accessible to those who need it most.

+2000
People enrolled in mental health services per year

+7,000
Psychological support visits carried out each year

A comprehensive community model for the delivery of mental health services

One of Haiti's biggest challenges is the lack of access to mental health care. After the 2010 earthquake, there were only five psychiatrists and one neurologist for a population of over 11 million. Only 4.5% of Haiti's national budget has been allocated to the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP), with less than 1% allocated to mental health, which makes the availability of mental health services and specialists across the country very limited.

Zanmi Lasante (ZL) started providing mental health services to patients in 2005. Since then, ZL's mental health team has broadened its scope in close collaboration with the MSPP to create a comprehensive community model for the provision of mental health services. In 2012, ZL expanded its mental health program, offering tailored tools and protocols to various providers, in five components of care delivery: depression, epilepsy, psychotic disorders, and child and adolescent mental health.

Program priorities: