Presents an article on an update on mental health services in Iraq. In the 1970s, Iraq made strides towards building a comprehensive, well-equipped health system free at the point of delivery. Medical education in Iraq was originally modelled on the British system and started with Baghdad Medical School in 1927. Psychiatry has not been a particularly popular speciality with trainees in Iraq, nor has mental health been well endowed by the Ministry of Health. None the less, in the 1970s there was a considerable expansion in the number of psychiatrists with higher qualifications. During the 1990s and as a result of the effective bankruptcy of the Iraqi state following the disastrous wars against Iran (1980-1988) and Kuwait (1990-1991), the Iraqi government engaged in a rethink of its policy on health. Since the fall of the Ba'ath regime, the pay scales of health service staff have undergone a major enhancement. Psychiatrists working within the Iraqi mental health services will find that they are able to contact their colleagues abroad and establish professional and educational links without the interference of state security.