In Lebanon, faced with all the emergencies of war, mental health often takes second place. However, the consequences of the conflict are insidious on society. On a daily basis, how can we cope with the forced displacement which has lasted for three months for a quarter of the population? Faced with the stress of the bombings? In mourning? All this, while the economic crisis which has taken place for more than seven years has permanently impoverished the population. In 2025, Lebanon was one of the unhappiest countries in the world, ranked 145 out of 147 in the World Happiness report.
Report from our correspondent in Beirut, Sophie Guignon
We are in the Hamra district of Beirut in Lebanon. In many abandoned buildings, we can see displaced people who have not found better shelter. A few steps away, in his pharmacy, Doctor Omar Richany confides: “You want me to tell you frankly: we sell a lot of pills against anxiety and depression. More drugs are sold against depression than paracetamol against headaches. »
A general evil caused by the accumulation of crises that cross Lebanon, especially pharmacies: «ÂThe situation we live in is very bad. The banks stole people’s money. Because of the wars, no one has a job, everything is very distressing. This is what weighs on people. Fortunately, medications exist so that we can sleep, so that we can relax a little. Without it, it would be even harder. »
« Forced displacement has a very painful impact on individuals »
As in this pharmacy, across the country, sales of antidepressants are increasing dramatically. In the premises of theONG Embrace, we receive calls from all over Lebanon. At the end of the line, more than 120 volunteers trained in suicide prevention. Mira Dali Balta, psychologist in charge of 1564, the national free helpline founded by the NGO Embrace in 2017, explains:
« People lost a lot of material goods, but also symbolic ones. With moving from one place to another, they had to leave behind many objects and memories attached to their home. While they believed their place of refuge was safe, it turns out that these places are being targeted in turn. All these pressures linked to forced displacement have a very painful impact on individuals who feel helpless. »
The NGO receives more than 60 calls per day, mainly from young people between 18 and 34 years old worried about the future. Agatha Abboud is responsible for the emergency line: “We are having difficulty responding to the large number of calls. Everyone lives with some form of anxiety, uncertainty about the future, a lack of hope. We don’t know when it will improve. »
Will there be a light at the end of this crisis tunnel? The morale of the Lebanese depends on it.
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