Collaborative Approaches to Addressing Mental Health and Addiction Care in the Middle East

Abstract

Treating mental health issues with comorbid addiction issues is challenging, but is gaining more attention globally and is referred to as integrated care. However, this type of practice or even movement toward working more collaboratively is difficult to find in the Middle East for this client population. This chapter provides an overview of the cultural issues related to substance abuse and mental health, including an exploration of the collective trauma that underpins the development of such disorders, that impact collaborative practice. It also considers the use of the community in interventions and concludes with recommendations for the future such as partnering with Western providers and researchers, as well as policy makers, which could help advance the efforts more quickly.