Morocco launches "Mental Health Plan 2030" with nearly 4 billion dirhams investment

The launch, presided over by the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Amine Tahraoui, took place on Thursday, September 3, 2026, in Rabat. The plan addresses a significant need, as 6.5 million Moroccans, including nearly 2 million children and young people, suffer from mental health disorders, with 85% not receiving necessary care. The new strategy shifts from a treatment-focused approach to a more comprehensive one, emphasizing prevention, early detection, intervention, and continuous support.

Key initiatives include increasing mental health system capacity, with the number of beds projected to rise from 2,466 to approximately 4,728, and psychiatric hospitals from 10 to 17. Intermediate structures will also expand from 4 to 24. The plan, estimated to cost nearly 4 billion dirhams, also focuses on human resources, aiming to increase public sector psychologists from 32 to 786 by 2030, and boosting annual training capacity for specialized psychiatrists and mental health nurses.

A legal framework for regulating the psychology profession is also planned. Developed with a participatory approach involving 13 government departments and the World Health Organization, the roadmap comprises 86 measures across three strategic axes and four framework conditions, designed to improve access, en