Somalia faces growing mental health crisis due to conflict and poverty

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Friday October 18, 2024

Two mothers waiting for a medical consultation at an MSF-supported outreach medical center in Baidoa, Somalia. | Somalia 2024 © Bishar Mayow/MSF

Mogadishu (HOL) — Years of conflict, poverty, and displacement have left Somalia grappling with a mounting mental health crisis that remains largely unaddressed, according to Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). In a recent report, MSF highlighted the worsening psychological toll on vulnerable communities, with women and children bearing the brunt of the distress.

Between January and September 2024, MSF's mental health teams conducted 4,940 individual consultations across regions such as Baidoa and Galkayo. The teams also reached over 38,000 people through group activities aimed at promoting mental health awareness and teaching coping strategies. However, experts stress that these efforts only scratch the surface of the immense psychological burden borne by Somalia's population.

Alberto Macin, MSF's mental health activities manager in Somalia, described the scale of the crisis, highlighting how years of violence, displacement, and natural disasters have taken a profound toll on people's mental well-being. "Many women have experienced sexual violence, but it is something we cannot talk about," Macin explained, emphasizing the deep cultural stigma surrounding mental health in Somali society.

Somalia has been battered by decades of civil war, recurrent droughts, and floods, all of which have displaced millions of people and destroyed livelihoods. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 13% of conflict-affected populations globally suffer from mental disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. In Somalia, these issues are compounded by widespread poverty, a fractured healthcare system, and a lack of trained mental health professionals.

Women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities are among the most vulnerable to the mental health crisis. Families often struggle to care for relatives suffering from severe mental disorders, such as psychosis or bipolar disorder, without adequate support. One Somali woman shared her difficulty caring for her uncle, who suffers from psychosis: "I can no longer take care of him. He has become very aggressive, and we have no way to restrain him."

Mental health services in Somalia are limited. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with local organizations, provides some counselling and psychosocial support, particularly to survivors of violence and patients with chronic diseases like HIV and tuberculosis. However, these services fall short of meeting the vast needs of the population. Many individuals requiring both pharmaceutical and psychological treatments remain untreated due to a lack of resources.

The humanitarian crisis in Somalia, worsened by overcrowded displacement camps and insufficient access to essential services such as food and healthcare, has further exacerbated the mental health challenges. "There is no hope left anymore," one displaced person told MSF during a consultation, reflecting the despair that many feel in the face of ongoing hardship.

Macin urged for a more coordinated response from the international community, calling for mental health care to be integrated into broader humanitarian efforts that address basic needs like food, shelter, and water. He stressed that mental health specialists, including psychiatric nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists, should oversee mental health programs to ensure quality care.

Despite the overwhelming challenges, Somalia's communities continue to show resilience. MSF and other organizations believe that empowering community groups to provide psychological support can help bridge the gap in services. Strengthening traditional social networks and fostering community cohesion can offer emotional relief to those affected by the crisis, Macin said.

Without significant international investment in mental health services, millions of Somalis will continue to suffer in silence, with no access to the care they desperately need.

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