Jiyan Foundation Opens Mental Health Treatment Center in Baghdad, Iraq

Erbil (July 11, 2022) – At a ceremony attended by representatives of the Iraqi government, nonprofit organizations and representatives of several embassies, Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of Iraq and with financial support from Johanniter and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (bmz.de), officially opened a new treatment center in Baghdad.

Jiyan Foundation’s treatment center in Baghdad will provide free of charge psychotherapy and mental health treatment along with medical, legal, and social support to survivors of violence, trauma, and human rights violations.

The opening ceremony included remarks by the National Mental Health Adviser at the Iraqi Ministry of Health Dr. Imad Abdul Razzaq, representative of Johanniter Mrs. Sevin Ibrahim, and the Second Secretary at the Indian Embassy in Baghdad Mr. Chaudhry. Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights Chairman and Founder Salah Ahmad who also spoke at the event released the below statement:

“If we want to offer the best care to people, we all need to study, read and confront our preconceived ideas, without fear or prejudices.

“Mental Health programs account for less than 1% of charitable grants and institutional funding, however, it is these programs that provide direct, tangible impacts to security, economic development, and most importantly improved health and well-being of our fellow citizens. These programs along with providing direct mental health support assist in fighting racism, prejudice, and building lasting peace in the region. I am pleased the Iraqi Ministry of Health, and our financial supporter Johanniter have taken steps to provide these services in Baghdad where they are certainly needed.”

Dr. Abbas Hussein, Director of the new Jiyan Foundation branch in Baghdad, thanked supporters for establishing the building of the center and said that the treatment center is now open for survivors and citizens to benefit from its services.

About Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights

Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights is a nonprofit organization that supports survivors of human rights violations, defends fundamental freedoms, and promotes democratic values throughout the world. Jiyan Foundation seeks to build democratic societies that protects the dignity of the human being, where adults and children enjoy the rights to life and freedom, and citizens are free from violence, torture, and terror, domestic violence, and human rights violations.

Our programs, projects, and initiatives provide mental health, medical treatment and other health services to survivors of trauma, terror, domestic violence, and human rights violations. Our work supports nine treatment centers, a clinic for Yazidi women and families, a Healing Garden and mobile teams helping survivors in 11 refugee and IDP camps in nine regions throughout Kurdistan-Iraq, Iraq, and Syria. Since 2005 these programs have provided support to over 100,000 people.

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