Mental Illness – The Devastating Disease Crippling Africa

Mental Illness In Africa

Mental illness is a subject widely taboo and misunderstood in Africa. Conversations surrounding the topic are scarce; however, it is an invisible yet devasting disease that is ever so prominent in the growing population. Those living with mental illness, particularly severe mental illness (e.g. displaying psychotic symptoms), are shunned, stigmatised, and ostracised in African communities – such is the case in many other communities worldwide.

Socioeconomic factors such as conflict, disaster, social inequality, poverty, and migration have increased the susceptibility of Africans to mental illness over the continent’s long history of instability.

The WHO Mental Health Atlas found that African countries allocate less than 1% of their health budgets (an already small budget) toward mental health services [2]. With an estimated 100 million people suffering from clinical depression alone in Africa, including 66 million women, there are insufficient resources and attention on this matter [1].

In 2015, a paper titled “Providing Sustainable Mental Health Care in Ghana: A Demonstration Project” written by Julian Eaton & Sammy Ohene found that there were only 16 clinical psychologists in public service in Ghana – that’s around one psychologist for 1.5 million people in the population [3]! African nations need to address the current mental health crisis with the utmost priority.

Our goal here at The Adjei Foundation is to bring awareness to mental illness in sub-Saharan Africa and support the development of better mental health care.

We hope you can support us in this endeavour.

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