Algeria is confronting a growing mental health challenge that is increasingly difficult to ignore. From the rise in drug addiction to mounting psychological distress among university students and healthcare workers, recent developments reveal a system under pressure—struggling to match policy ambitions with lived realities.
At the heart of the crisis is drug addiction, which authorities now describe as a major public health threat. Government reports estimate that up to three million Algerians may be users or addicts, with a 38 percent increase in drug use recorded between 2021 and 2022. In response, the state has begun establishing monitoring and coordination platforms across all 58 wilayas, aimed at tracking addiction treatment initiatives and aligning interventions with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While the move signals political recognition of the problem, experts warn that monitoring alone will not curb addiction without expanded treatment centers, community outreach, and reintegration programs.
The crisis is equally visible within Algeria’s universities. A 2023–2024 national review highlighted rising levels of stress, substance use, and psychological distress among students, driven by academic pressure, unemployment anxiety, and broader social uncertainty. Although structures such as the University Psychological Assistance Centers (CAPU) exist, mental health advocates argue that these services remain under-resourced and overstretched, limiting their ability to provide timely and effective care to students in need.
Legislative reform has also fallen short of expectations. Algeria’s 2018 mental health law, introduced to modernize psychiatric care and promote patient dignity, has struggled in implementation. Reports point to a persistent gap between policy and practice, largely due to funding constraints, staff shortages, and outdated facilities. As a result, families continue to shoulder much of the burden of care, especially for individuals with severe mental health conditions—a situation that places emotional and financial strain on households.
Recent discussions on psychiatric hospitalization trends, including a September 2025 analysis, further underscore systemic challenges. Specialized facilities such as EHS Drid Hocine Hospital in Algiers remain central to mental health treatment, yet experts emphasize the urgent need for decentralised, community-based care to reduce overcrowding and improve outcomes.
The psychological toll on healthcare professionals adds another layer to the crisis. Studies conducted in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic revealed alarming figures: 23.8 percent prevalence of anxiety and 44.6 percent prevalence of depression among healthcare workers in 2021. These findings have prompted renewed calls for sustainable mental health support programs tailored to frontline workers, whose well-being is critical to the resilience of the entire health system.
Collectively, these developments point to a nation at a crossroads. Algeria has taken meaningful steps toward acknowledging mental health as a national priority, yet demand continues to outpace capacity. Without stronger investment, workforce expansion, and community-level interventions, the country risks allowing a silent crisis to deepen.
As Algeria looks toward its 2030 development targets, mental health may well become a defining test—not only of its healthcare system, but of its commitment to social wellbeing and human dignity.
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