When his mother was diagnosed with cancer, Wadih Rhondali had not yet chosen his professional path. At the time, he was completing a psychiatry internship in France, confronting illness daily both inside and outside the hospital. Caught between these two experiences, he became acutely aware of a painful gap in the care provided to cancer patients, one in which psychological suffering often remains unaddressed within treatment protocols. That realization marked a turning point, steering him toward a form of medicine that places the person before the disease. DR ‹ › Wadih Rhondali did not choose to specialize in supporting cancer patients by chance. A deeply personal experience led him down this path, marking a decisive turning point in his career. During his psychiatric training in France, where he was born and raised, his mother was diagnosed with cancer. Experiencing the illness first as a son, before becoming a doctor, he was confronted with a painful gap in the support offered to cancer patients, not only medically, but especially on psychological and spiritual levels, even in a highly developed healthcare system like France's. At that moment, he became convinced that caring for a sick person cannot be reduced to physical treatment alone. «I told myself that this void should not continue. That's when I decided to specialize in palliative care and supportive oncology, to provide better accompaniment and preserve the dignity of patients who are already going through an extremely difficult experience», he told Yabiladi. Born in the French city of Lyon, Rhondali chose to focus his psychiatric practice on cancer patients. From the very beginning of his career, he felt the need to broaden his therapeutic approach. This was not a passing thought, but a conviction that deepened over the years as he accompanied patients living with fear and anxiety, emotions that do not always fit neatly into medical protocols. Over time, it became clear to him that medication, while essential, is not sufficient on its own. Guided by this realization, he built a multidisciplinary scientific and professional path. Alongside his medical training, he earned a PhD in psychology and later completed a master's degree in neuroscience. He trained in reflexology, Thai medical massage, and Ayurveda, and considers yoga an essential tool for restoring balance. He also received training in art therapy, hypnotherapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), approaches he views as powerful ways to address trauma and deep psychological distress without relying solely on pharmaceutical solutions. From Accompanying Patients to Protecting Caregivers Years of work in oncology also revealed another painful reality to him: the psychological toll borne by healthcare and paramedical staff who confront patients' suffering on a daily basis and are expected to remain resilient under emotionally draining conditions. Rhondali observed that many healthcare professionals experience psychological distress due to workload pressure, time constraints, and a chronic lack of human resources. Often unable to provide the level of care they aspire to, their work risks shifting from a deeply human relationship to a succession of rushed medical gestures, an experience that can lead to long-term psychological exhaustion. As a result, he began dedicating part of his work to supporting healthcare professionals themselves, whether to manage or prevent burnout. For him, protecting those who care for others is a fundamental condition for the sustainability of any healthcare system. Returning to Morocco, Reclaiming Roots Two years ago, after professional experiences in France and the United States, Rhondali made the decision to return permanently to Morocco. Several factors motivated this choice, foremost among them a desire to be closer to his family, originally from Oulad Said near Settat. His parents and two sisters had already settled in Morocco. «For me, family is a fundamental core of life that cannot be neglected», he said. His connection to Morocco was not new. Earlier in his career, he completed training at Ibn Rochd Hospital in pediatric hematology, an experience that gave him early insight into the challenges facing Morocco's healthcare system. The return, however, was far from easy. Rhondali faced multiple challenges, from relearning Darija and learning to read and write Arabic, to rebuilding a professional and social network, and navigating social perceptions sometimes directed at those returning from abroad. «Morocco runs in my blood, really, in my veins, and it has always been an essential part of my life. In recent years, this bond has grown stronger. I felt the need to reclaim my roots and ground myself in a place where I am fully accepted as I am». Back in Morocco, he continued his work while becoming increasingly aware that the mental health of medical staff remains largely overlooked. This neglect, he argues, is often justified by a lack of resources, but the deeper issue lies in a weak mental-health culture and the absence of tools to ease the psychological suffering of doctors and nurses in a country already grappling with staff shortages. «Human resources are a true treasure. They must be preserved through continuous training, spaces for research, and groups for dialogue and reflection—allowing pressure to be released before difficulties turn into crises». «Raha»: Digitizing Mental Health With a Moroccan Perspective From this awareness emerged a digital project: Raha, a mental-health application designed primarily for Moroccans and the wider Middle East. Rhondali explained that the goal is to offer an alternative to existing platforms that rely heavily on Western psychological models. «The idea is to provide content that takes cultural and linguistic specificities into account», he said. The application will feature a free section dedicated to mental-health education, offering short capsules in Arabic, Darija, French, and Amazigh, aimed at raising awareness and making psychological resources accessible to a wider audience. A second section, available through an affordable subscription, will offer follow-up via a chatbot specifically trained for this purpose, as well as connections with real professionals such as psychiatrists and psychologists. Partnerships with Moroccan institutions are also being explored to expand the project's reach. In parallel, Rhondali has intensified his awareness-raising efforts on social media, producing content in French and Darija, primarily targeting Moroccan audiences. His future plans in Morocco include continued training for medical and paramedical staff to improve support for cancer patients; specialized training for mental-health professionals in approaches such as schema therapy and EMDR under more accessible conditions; and support for civil-society organizations, including Operation Smile Maroc, through free training in psychological and social care. He is also considering partnerships with SOS Village Maroc to replicate earlier initiatives involving workshops and assessments for children in vulnerable situations. Additionally, he aims to strengthen cooperation between his company, Another Way, and public institutions such as the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, with the goal of reducing psychological suffering in Morocco, particularly the kind experienced in silence and isolation. For those hesitant to seek help, Rhondali offers a simple message: «Mental health is not a weakness, but a strength. Psychological suffering is not a flaw or a stigma, it is a human condition that deserves care».
