The Stream

Morocco’s mental dilemma

How is the country balancing traditional spiritual healing with modern psychiatry to treat its mentally ill?

On Monday, May 12 at 19:30 GMT:

Morocco’s Health Minister has suggested a facility known for shackling, starving and beating mentally ill patients should be closed. Healers at the Bouya Omar shrine perform exorcisms on patients they say are possessed. At 19:30 GMT, we’ll look at the challenges of respecting the rights of Morocco’s mentally ill and honouring cultural traditions that suggest they’re controlled by spirits.

In this episode of The Stream, we speak to: 

Loubna Skalli Hanna
Professor, American University

Dr. Jallal Toufiq @ProfToufiq
Director, Ar-razi University Psychiatric Hospital

Yosr Tazi 
Facilitator, Association Marocaine des usagers de la psychiatrie
talentum.ma 

What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.