Cairo Media Students’ Graduation Project: Raising Awareness on Mental Health Importance
Egypt’s Mental Health Initiatives Gain Momentum
Table of Contents
In Egypt, a growing emphasis on mental health awareness is taking shape through various community and national initiatives. These efforts aim to address the “forgotten mental health crisis” and provide support to those in need.
Community-Based Mental Health Care
Egypt has a long history of community-based mental health care.As far back as the 14th Century,the Kalaoon Hospital in Cairo offered mental health services,predating similar institutions in other parts of the world by 600 years.
government and NGO Efforts
The Ministry of Health and Population in Egypt is actively involved in promoting mental health awareness. In August 2021, the Ministry announced a cycling marathon to raise “awareness on mental health concepts among adolescents” in Egypt. The event involved 100 participants who cycled 12 kilometers, adhering to COVID-19 prevention measures, to support adolescent mental health.
The Need for Increased Awareness
Despite these efforts, health experts emphasize the need for more extensive nationwide campaigns to increase awareness. There is a call on the government to address the mental health crisis, particularly as “struggling people continue to die by suicide.”
Cairo University Students Launch “Awareness” Campaign
Students from the Faculty of Media at Cairo University have launched the “Awareness” campaign as part of their graduation project. The campaign, themed “Awareness Today is Safety for tomorrow,” aims to raise awareness about mental health, its importance, and to break down barriers and stigmas associated with psychological treatment that prevent people from taking the step of treatment, in addition to providing awareness content that contributes to spreading the culture of mental health.
Campaign Goals
The students aim to spread awareness about the importance of mental health and promote a culture of seeking psychological help without fear or hesitation, in order to build a more conscious and accepting society for mental health.
“Awareness” Event
In a related context, students from the Faculty of Media at Cairo University are organizing an “Awareness” event on Monday, April 7, 2025, from 11 AM to 2 PM, as part of their graduation project, which aims to spread awareness about mental health and emphasize the importance of receiving psychological support without fear or hesitation.
Participating Students
The graduation project includes students Alaa Rabie Ibrahim, Maryam Muhammad Jalal, malak Nader Esmat, Rinad Al-Mudathir Issa, Shahd Mahmoud, Gharam muhammad Ezzat, Shahd Ahmed Abdel Hakim, Amira Muhammad Shahin, Fatima Sayed, Marina Magdy, Iyad Muhammad Badawi, Ziad Ahmed Saeed, Jamila Hussein Muhammad Qanawi, Karim Ahmed Muhammad Hassan, Rivan Khaled Abdullah Faraj, Ibrahim Salah Abdel Hafez, Menna Allah Tariq Muhammad, Anas Muhammad Wahid, Menna Allah Ashraf Ahmed, Maryam Hazem Abdel Rahman.
Project Supervisors
The project is supervised by Dr. Amira Ahmed Abdel Majeed and Dr. Iman Osama.
Legislative and Policy reform
To further improve mental health care, “legislative and policy reform also needs to be accompanied by training, awareness-raising campaigns, and research, for which adequate” resources are necessary.
Mental Health in Egypt: Addressing the “Forgotten Crisis” – A Extensive Q&A
Mental health is gaining increasing recognition globally, and Egypt is no exception. This Q&A explores the current state of mental health initiatives in Egypt, from ancient roots to modern campaigns, addressing key questions and concerns.
General Questions About Mental Health in Egypt
Q: What is the current state of mental health awareness and support in Egypt?
Egypt is witnessing a growing emphasis on mental health awareness through various community and national initiatives. These efforts aim to address the “forgotten mental health crisis” and provide support to those in need. Despite these efforts, health experts emphasize the need for more extensive nationwide campaigns to increase awareness and combat stigma.
Q: What is the History of Community-Based Mental Health Care in Egypt?
Egypt has a long history of community-based mental health care. As far back as the 14th Century, the Kalaoon Hospital in Cairo offered mental health services, predating similar institutions in other parts of the world by 600 years.
Q: What are the main challenges facing mental health care in Egypt?
Stigma: One of the most notable challenges is the stigma associated with mental illness, which prevents many people from seeking help.
Limited Resources: There is a need for increased resources for training, awareness campaigns, and research in the field of mental health.
Access to Services: Despite efforts to integrate mental health services, access remains a challenge for many, particularly in underserved areas.
Legislative and Policy Reform: Further legislative and policy reform is needed to improve mental health care comprehensively.
Q: What percentage of young Egyptians require mental health services?
in Egypt, where 40% of the population is under 18 years old, 15%-20% of them require mental health services, but only 5% receive them, indicating a significant gap in child and adolescent mental health care.
Governmental and NGO Initiatives
Q: What role does the Egyptian government play in promoting mental health?
The Ministry of Health and Population in Egypt is actively involved in promoting mental health awareness. Thay organize events and campaigns designed to raise awareness and provide support.
Q: Can you give an example of a government-led mental health initiative?
In August 2021, the Ministry of Health and Population announced a cycling marathon to raise “awareness on mental health concepts among adolescents” in Egypt. The event involved 100 participants who cycled 12 kilometers, adhering to COVID-19 prevention measures, to support adolescent mental health.
Q: Besides the government, which other organizations are involved in mental health support?
While the provided text focuses on government initiatives and a university campaign, it suggests that NGOs and other community organizations are likely to be involved.Further research would be needed to detail their specific contributions.
Cairo University “Awareness” Campaign
Q: What is the “Awareness” campaign launched by Cairo University students?
Students from the Faculty of Media at Cairo University have launched the “Awareness” campaign as part of their graduation project. The campaign, themed “awareness Today is Safety for tomorrow,” aims to raise awareness about mental health, its importance, and to break down barriers and stigmas associated with psychological treatment.
Q: What are the goals of the “Awareness” campaign?
To spread awareness about the importance of mental health.
To promote a culture of seeking psychological help without fear or hesitation.
* To build a more conscious and accepting society for mental health.
Q: What activities are planned as part of the “Awareness” campaign?
As part of their graduation project,the students are organizing an “Awareness” event on Monday,April 7,2025,from 11 AM to 2 PM,Students also launched media campaigns,and other outreach initiatives to break down barriers and stigmas
Q: Who are the students participating in the ”Awareness” campaign?
The graduation project includes students Alaa Rabie Ibrahim,Maryam Muhammad Jalal,malak Nader Esmat,rinad Al-Mudathir Issa,Shahd Mahmoud,Gharam muhammad Ezzat,Shahd Ahmed Abdel Hakim,Amira Muhammad Shahin,Fatima sayed,Marina Magdy,Iyad Muhammad Badawi,Ziad Ahmed Saeed,Jamila Hussein Muhammad Qanawi,Karim Ahmed Muhammad Hassan,Rivan khaled Abdullah Faraj,Ibrahim Salah Abdel Hafez,Menna Allah Tariq Muhammad,Anas Muhammad Wahid,Menna Allah Ashraf Ahmed,Maryam Hazem Abdel Rahman.
Q: Who are the supervisors of the “Awareness” campaign project?
The project is supervised by Dr. Amira Ahmed Abdel Majeed and Dr. Iman Osama.
Legislative and Policy Reforms
Q: What is needed to further improve mental health care in Egypt?
To further improve mental health care, “legislative and policy reform also needs to be accompanied by training, awareness-raising campaigns, and research, for which adequate” resources are necesary.
Q: What kind of Legislative and Policy reform are under consideration?
Integrating mental health services into the national mental health agenda and enacting legislative is critical, however, the specific details are not clear.
Summary Table: Mental Health Initiatives in Egypt
| Initiative | Description | Key Goal | Implementing Body |
| :—————————- | :—————————————————————————————————————————– | :—————————————————————————————————— | :—————————————————— |
| Community-Based Mental Health Care | Historic precedence with institutions like the Kalaoon Hospital in Cairo (14th Century) | Providing accessible mental health services | Various community-based organizations and hospitals |
| government Initiatives | Ministry of Health and Population actively involved | Raising awareness and providing support | Ministry of Health and Population |
| Cycling Marathon (2021) | Event to raise awareness among adolescents | Promoting adolescent mental health | Ministry of Health and Population |
| “Awareness” Campaign | Cairo University students’ graduation project | Breaking down stigma and promoting psychological help-seeking behavior among the population in general | Faculty of Media at Cairo University |
Conclusion
egypt is making strides in addressing its mental health challenges through a combination of government initiatives, community-based care, and awareness campaigns. However, more extensive nationwide campaigns, increased resources, and legislative reforms are necessary to fully address the ”forgotten mental health crisis.”