Haitian Government must invest more in Mental Health Services

Nearly five years later hundreds of thousands of earthquake survivors remain living in tent cities, suffering severe emotional and psychological trauma. In addition they are dealing with overcrowding, squalor, risks of being sexually assaulted, gang activity, and no police protection.

The enormity of psychological damage done to the island's population becomes apparent when you look at the statistics: in total 2 million-plus people were affected; a death toll of 222,750; 80,000 missing; and 1.5 million made homeless.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) compiled statistics on the quake and surveyed 950 families in homeless encampments and discovered 32% were experiencing the distress signs of panic attacks, withdrawal, or trying to kill themselves.

The Haitian government has not made a commitment to providing mental health services: less than 5% of its budget is directed to it. Port-au-Prince has a government-operated psychiatric hospital with only 112 beds and a shortage of psychiatrists.

Although mental health issues are being discussed more openly, IOM says the government needs to invest more, and IOM has been lobbying them, but are unsure if they are putting the issue on its agenda.

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