On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, held on Thursday, October 10, 2024, the conference hall of the Central Library hosted the first national colloquium on the impact of concealing illnesses within marital relationships—issues and solutions. This event was organized by the Research Laboratory on Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Learning in the Department of Psychology at the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences of the University of Tlemcen, in collaboration with the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Medicine.

This colloquium aims to understand the reality of the impact of concealing illnesses, whether psychological or physical, within marital relationships. It seeks to identify the psychological effects on the sick partner as well as on the patient themselves and to explore the psychological reasons behind this concealment, such as shame, fear of losing the partner, or the fear of rejection.

It also aims to examine the psychological well-being of the patient in their family environment, the repercussions on children, and to propose psychological solutions to these effects through the interventions of specialists, doctors in psychology, and psychologists from the University Hospital of Tlemcen.

This issue has social dimensions concerning others' perceptions of the concealment of illnesses, as well as a lack of communication and dialogue between spouses. Legally, public law specialists discussed the role of premarital medical screening to detect illnesses, laws regarding contagion by an undisclosed partner, and potential legal liabilities.

Islamic law specialists also addressed the rules related to the concealment of illnesses and the defects in marriage according to contemporary Islamic jurisprudence. Additionally, psychiatry experts examined the consequences of this issue on the patient's mental health, emphasizing the importance of the doctor’s role in informing the partner and the necessity of psychological follow-up.

Recommendations: The colloquium resulted in several key recommendations, including:

• Raising awareness about the importance of mental health.
• Proposing support and counseling programs for partners on managing their relationship in the event of psychological disorders or physical illnesses.
• Encouraging the idea that partners should undergo psychological medical examinations just as they would physical examinations and participate in preparatory training for married life.
• Promoting open and sincere dialogue between partners without taboos during the engagement period, avoiding limiting discussions to superficial topics such as wedding preparations and financial aspects.