Spread of Mentally Ill Alarms Activists in Casablanca Outskirts

Concerns are mounting in several communities on the outskirts of Casablanca due to a visible rise in individuals experiencing mental and psychological disorders. These individuals are frequently seen wandering the streets and public areas, causing apprehension among residents due to unpredictable behavior from those not receiving regular medical or social care.

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The problem is mainly linked to the weakness of specialized mental and psychological health structures, and the lack of shelters, care, and reintegration centers.

The increasing number of homeless individuals and those with mental health issues has prompted demands for immediate action from authorities. Civil society activist Hassan Salahemi pointed to insufficient specialized mental health infrastructure and a lack of shelters and rehabilitation centers. He noted that the scarcity of these facilities in areas surrounding Casablanca forces many patients and their families into difficult social predicaments, often resulting in homelessness.

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The lack and absence of centers in the provinces surrounding Casablanca makes a number of patients and their families face difficult social situations that often end in homelessness and wandering in public spaces.

Salahemi stressed the need for a humane approach that respects patients' dignity and their fundamental rights to treatment and care. Aziz Hanaoui, another activist from Mohammedia, stated that many families struggle to continue caring for relatives with chronic mental illnesses due to limited treatment options and high medical costs. He emphasized that this situation exacerbates the problem, turning it into a social challenge requiring organized institutional intervention, including the creation of specialized regional centers within the Casablanca-Settat region.

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The situation requires today the adoption of a humane approach that preserves the dignity of patients and respects their basic rights to treatment and care.

Activists are urging all stakeholders, including civil society organizations, to work towards alleviating the burden on families and reducing the number of patients on the streets. They advocate for bringing treatment, shelter, and rehabilitation services closer to citizens to ease the pressure on existing health institutions. The provision of qualified medical and social teams to support this vulnerable group is also deemed essential.

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The social situation of patients' families exacerbates the scale of the phenomenon and turns it into a social challenge that requires organized institutional intervention.