There are 16 public outpatient mental health facilities available in the country, 7 community-based facilities and a single mental hospital. Few services are afforded to children and adolescents. The main users belong to the groups of schizophrenia and mood disorders. Women are underrepresented in inpatient units. Psychotropic medicines are available everywhere. In terms of affordability of mental health facilities, the system still suffers from an imbalance with a crucial lack of community-based services such as residential facilities or day treatment facilities.
In Tunisia, all primary health care clinics are physician based and almost all of them have assessment and treatment protocols for key mental health conditions available. Only doctors are allowed to prescribe psychotropic medications, whatever the circumstance and without restrictions. In addition, a few NGOs are involved with mental health in the country, mainly in child psychiatry and rehabilitation. Lastly, there is a coordinating body to oversee public education and awareness campaigns on health and illnesses in general, which also include mental health and mental disorders.