The crisis hitting Iran from within: "We are not far from a state of emergency"

The head of Iran's psychologists' organization warns of a severe mental health crisis amid fears of war with Israel and the US and the economic crisis. According to him, society is not far from a state of emergency, and uncertainty is causing anxiety and mental burnout.

The head of Iran's Organization of Psychologists and Counseling, Alireza Agha-Yousefi, has warned that the country is approaching a severe mental health crisis, against the backdrop of fears of another war with Israel and the United States and the ongoing economic crisis. In an interview with an Iranian news agency, he was asked how far society is from a state of emergency in the field of mental health, and replied: 'I don't think we are very far from that.' According to him, the situation where Iran is not in an all-out war but also does not enjoy peace creates significant mental pressure, and the inability to plan for the future can cause severe anxiety and burnout. He warned that the consequences could emerge in a year or two, and include depression, marital crises, and health problems. Alongside this, the economic crisis makes it difficult for citizens to receive treatment due to inflation and the erosion of purchasing power. The warning comes after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian last week defined the state between war and peace as the worst for the country.