Like her daughter, Hiyam, a 50-year-old Lebanese mother who has devoted her life to her children, decided to seek care for her mental health when she realised how her marital problems were affecting her relationship with her children, as well as their mental health.
“The only thing I regret now is that I delayed seeking mental health care. I tried to find solutions on my own, but I was clearly unable to do so,” says Hiyam. “As a result, my desire to be alone grew stronger, while my ability to tolerate my children and to communicate with them properly decreased. I used to be full of energy, but now I’m always tired, nervous and crying all the time.”
The care Hiyam received was crucial for her relationships.
“I have changed a lot and I am so glad that such treatment is available here in Arsal,” Hiyam says. “I feel much more energetic and no longer afraid of leaving my comfort zone. Bit by bit I have regained my self-esteem.”
In Lebanon, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provides mental health services in south Beirut, in the Bekaa Valley, and in northern Lebanon. Our teams offer psychotherapy, drug therapy by trained public health doctors under the supervision of psychiatrists, and referrals of more complex cases after examination to other organisations.
