On the occasion of World Mental Health Day and Decent Work Day, Caritas Lebanon, with support from the European Union and in collaboration with Caritas Austria, organized a high-level roundtable discussion addressing the urgent need for comprehensive mental health and hospitalization coverage for migrant domestic workers in Lebanon.
The event brought together key representatives from the Lebanese government, international organizations, civil society, foreign embassies, and labor sector stakeholders. The aim was to open a transparent dialogue on the systemic and psychological challenges faced by thousands of migrant workers, particularly women, who live and work in private households across the country.
Dr. Ghassan Al Aouar, representing the Ministry of Labor, emphasized that Lebanon is facing a nationwide mental health crisis affecting citizens and migrants alike. According to the national mental health, 1 in 6 Lebanese suffers from a mental health disorder annually, and only a small percentage access appropriate care due to high costs, limited services, and social stigma.
Migrant workers, especially domestic workers, endure additional burdens including isolation, wage delays, abuse, and lack of legal protections; all contributing to severe mental distress.
“Mental health is not the problem of a single community; it is a national concern,” said Dr. Aouar. “The proposed amendments to the labor law include equal rights for migrant domestic workers, and we call for all stakeholders to support these reforms.”
In his opening remarks, Father Michel Abboud, President of Caritas Lebanon, delivered a powerful and emotional plea to humanize the discussion:
“Every woman suffering in silence is a call from God. Every worker exhausted in a home far from her homeland is the face of the suffering Christ.”
Caritas, he added, has provided support and shelter to migrant workers long before they were recognized by law. According to internal data, 17% of women housed in Caritas shelters in 2024 required specialized psychological care, many of whom suffered from PTSD, depression, and suicidal ideation.
The Kafala system, described by Fr. Abboud as a form of modern-day slavery, was identified as a major contributor to mental health deterioration among domestic workers.
“We cannot ask a woman to be well when she is trapped in a system that does not even acknowledge her pain,” he added.
Dr. Rabih Al Chammay, head of the National Mental Health Program at the Ministry of Public Health, reaffirmed that mental health is a basic human right, not a privilege. He announced ongoing projects including:
“Our goal is to ensure equitable access to mental health services for all, regardless of nationality or status,” Dr. Al Chammay stated.
In light of the discussions and field experience shared by Caritas Lebanon and its partners, the following urgent recommendations were issued:
“This is not just humanitarian work, it is a commitment to justice and dignity,” concluded Father Abboud. “Where there is mercy, there we see the face of God.”