The Regional Health Directorate of Kasserine organized, on Saturday, a medical caravan specializing in child psychiatry, in coordination with the Badr Eddine Al-Aloui University Hospital in Kasserine, the Hédi Chaker University Hospital in Sfax, and in partnership with the Tunisian Association of Hospital Psychiatry. This initiative aims to strengthen mental health support in schools and promote early screening and diagnosis.
A full medical team from the psychiatry department of Hédi Chaker University Hospital in Sfax provided free consultations as part of this caravan, which was supervised by the Ministry of Health. A total of 84 children benefited from these services, along with several of their parents, mainly mothers.
Leïla Ben Dhibi, head of the school and university health department at the Regional Health Directorate of Kasserine, told TAP news agency that the files of the children examined had been prepared in advance, thanks to the significant work carried out by the regional rehabilitation unit.
She noted that the governorate of Kasserine has made significant progress in the field of mental health since the establishment of the psychiatry department at Badr Eddine Al-Aloui University Hospital.
Ben Dhibi stressed that improving mental health in schools requires coordinated efforts from all stakeholders—teachers, educational staff, and healthcare professionals—highlighting the crucial role of listening committees in engaging with students and identifying psychological disorders at an early stage.
For her part, Jawaher Masmoudi, head of Psychiatry Department “A” at Hédi Chaker University Hospital in Sfax, told TAP that the caravan is primarily intended for children suffering from psychological or neurological disorders.
However, she observed that many mothers also require psychological support to better assist their children dealing with depression, fatigue or anxiety.
The specialist emphasized that this is the first caravan of its kind in the region and that most of the children examined showed symptoms requiring follow-up.
She underscored the importance for parents to accept their children’s psychological conditions and seek appropriate treatment, recalling the central role of both parents and mental health professionals in supporting children with depression and facilitating their integration into school and social environments.
Masmoudi added that good mental health is essential for a child’s academic and social success: emotional stability boosts concentration and learning, improves relationships with peers and family, reduces aggressive or withdrawn behaviour, strengthens self-confidence, supports social skill development and prevents future disorders such as depression and anxiety.
She also pointed out the absence of child psychiatrists in Kasserine, where only three specialists in adult psychiatry are currently practicing. While this presence reflects an improvement in available services, it also highlights the need for greater support, she said.
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