Lebanese National Basketball team speaks about mental health

BEIRUT — Embrace, a Lebanese non-profit organization (NGO) focused on mental health, announced on Thursday a new campaign aimed at raising awareness and breaking stigma around men's mental health in collaboration with the European Union.

"In 2023, we are opening up the conversation around men’s mental health, which remains until today a taboo in our society. Men are expected to be strong and powerful, denying them the ability to be in touch with their feelings and to seek support when they need it," the organization said in a press briefing after the campaign’s launch.

As part of the campaign, Embrace collaborated with the recently victorious Lebanese National Basketball team. In a short film directed by Elie Fahed, team members Jad El Hajj, Wael Arakji, Sergio El Darwish, Hayk Gyokchyan, Ali Mansour and Elie Chamoun shared stories about their own struggles.

Mia Atoui, a Clinical Psychologist and the Co-founder and President of Embrace told L’Orient Today that "The highest percentage of individuals who are at risk of both developing mental health problems as well as suicidal thoughts are individuals between the ages 18 and 35. And therefore the choice of the national basketball team as players who this age group of men can identify with and whom many also see as role models was also why we chose to shoot this campaign with them. Furthermore, there are misconceptions that these players focus highly on their physical health and fitness, therefore it is equally important that they send the message that mental health is as important as physical health."

She added that in 2022, only 38% of the people who used Embrace’s free mental health services were men.

“We know that the percentage of men needing support is much higher, however there is still a very high stigma among men in reaching out for mental health support," said Atoui.

"We do notice from both our work in the free community mental health center as well as the calls we received to the Lifeline that women are more comfortable talking about their mental health.".

A particularly difficult context

The campaign comes as Lebanon continues to suffer the effects of an unprecedented economic crisis that has persisted for more than three years.

A report by Beirut-based research center Information International showed that suicide cases rose by 7.8 percent in the first seven months of 2022, compared to the same period in 2021. That rate increased at least 42 percent between July 2021 and 2022..

"The pressures over the past few years on men as a result of the financial crisis are increasing and have not previously ever been addressed," Atoui said.

From the Covid-19 pandemic, violent clashes, the Aug.4, 2020 port explosion and most recently the earthquake that reawakened past traumas, Lebanon’s population has had more than just the financial crisis to deal with in recent years.

Asked about potential backlash the organization could receive for launching a mental health campaign exclusively for men, Atoui said "We are constantly raising awareness for all populations and genders. This doesn't mean that other campaigns will not focus on women's health or individuals of binary gender. "

"Many [women] also do report stressors associated with the fact that many men in their lives are not seeking the mental health support that they also believe they need, and this can significantly affect interpersonal relationships and women's mental health as well," she added.

"This campaign aims to de-stigmatize and normalize men’s mental health, to start a conversation around men’s mental health, and send a message of hope, a reminder that our challenges can be overcome and to encourage men to express themselves and seek support," Embrace stated at the press briefing.

Embrace is known for operating the National Lifeline in Lebanon (1564), a suicide hotline providing round the clock support in partnership with the National Mental Health Program at the Ministry of Public Health. The Lifeline offers a safe space and a listening ear to individuals experiencing emotional distress or suicidal thoughts.