Beirut, Lebanon (Enmaeya News) — Despite growing awareness of mental health across Lebanon, a stubborn stigma persists especially among men. While clinics and NGOs report an uptick in mental health consultations post-crisis, the overwhelming majority of those seeking therapy remain women and children. Lebanese men, by contrast, are still largely absent from the therapist’s couch.
According to a 2024 report by the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) under Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health, men represent just 22% of outpatient mental health service users nationwide. This underrepresentation is even more acute in rural and conservative regions, where cultural norms often equate emotional expression with weakness.
Social conditioning plays a key role. From a young age, Lebanese boys are taught to “man up” and suppress emotions. Crying, admitting sadness, or expressing mental distress is often dismissed as unmanly, especially in patriarchal households.
A 2023 regional study by UN Women and ABAAD, a Lebanese gender-focused NGO, found that 64% of Lebanese men aged 18–45 believe that “real men” should be able to solve their problems without professional help. This belief is particularly prevalent among men who grew up during Lebanon’s civil war and post-2006 conflict eras periods marked by survivalist attitudes and normalized trauma.
The reluctance to seek therapy also intersects with Lebanon’s broader healthcare and economic crisis. Mental health remains underfunded, with less than 5% of the public health budget allocated to psychological care, according to the World Health Organization. While NGOs like Embrace, IDRAAC, and MOSAIC provide hotlines and low-cost counseling, these services often lack targeted outreach for men.
In war-affected areas like the South and Beqaa, where unemployment, displacement, and post-traumatic stress are high, mobile mental health units report that women and children dominate their caseloads. Cultural gatekeeping and lack of awareness continue to deter male participation.
Still, signs of change are emerging. Influencers, artists, and athletes are beginning to speak more openly about mental health. The popular Lebanese rapper El Rass has incorporated themes of trauma and healing in his lyrics. Social media campaigns launched by Embrace Lebanon, aim to normalize vulnerability and reshape narratives around masculinity.
The Lebanese Armed Forces, historically a male-dominated institution, also introduced psychosocial support sessions in 2024 for soldiers returning from border deployments. Early evaluations from the NMHP indicate improved stress management and team cohesion.
