Psychologist Jana Javakhishvili is raising concerns about Georgia’s newly adopted amendments to the Law on Mental Health, warning that the planned unified registry of individuals with mental health conditions, alcoholism, drug addictionmand toxicomania could have severe social consequences. Under the amendments, the Ministry of Labor, Health, and Social Protection will create and manage the database which must be fully operational by March 1, 2026 and will pull information from both state and private institutions.
Javakhishvili notes that international data shows one in four people experience conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD or mild substance dependence at some point in life. In countries facing conflict, political pressures or economic instability, including Georgia, she says the rate can exceed 30%, meaning a significant share of the population may potentially fall under the criteria of the new registry.
She warns that such a large-scale database could fuel discrimination, deepen social exclusion and discourage people from seeking treatment in an already under-resourced mental health system. Instead of supporting recovery, she argues, the registry risks heightening anxiety, depression and even suicidal behavior by attaching stigma to those who seek help.
Javakhishvili contrasts the initiative with Western approaches which prioritize expanding social protections, employment opportunities and community-based care. She draws parallels with Russia’s registry system, describing it as a model of social control rather than public health support and cautions that Georgia’s policy risks undoing years of progress in human rights and mental health reform.
