Mental Health
Mental health conditions affect 116 million Africans today. Sub-Saharan Africa has the world's highest depression DALY rate (1,137 per 100,000) and the highest regional suicide rate (11.5 per 100,000).
↑ Rising sharply — +130% projected
Burden
Mental health conditions affect an estimated 116 million Africans today — more than double the 53 million in 1990. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest regional rate of depression DALYs in the world: 1,137 per 100,000 people.
Suicide
Africa’s suicide rate of 11.5 per 100,000 in 2021 is the world’s highest regional rate — versus the global average of 8.9. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds globally.
Hotspots
- Uganda and The Gambia recorded the world’s highest depression incidence rates: 9,644 and 7,624 per 100,000
- Adolescent girls (15–19) show 64% higher depression incidence than males
- Conflict-affected populations: Sudan, DRC, South Sudan, Ethiopia
Treatment Gap
- Less than 10% of people with mental disorders receive any form of care
- Only 1 psychiatrist per 1 million people in sub-Saharan Africa
- Per-capita mental health spending: US$0.04 in low-income countries vs US$65 in high-income countries
Response
WHO’s mhGAP programme is active in 30+ African countries. The Friendship Bench (Zimbabwe) and StrongMinds (Uganda, Zambia) represent scalable task-shifted models.
“Sub-Saharan Africa has only 1 psychiatrist per 1 million people, compared with a global median of 13 mental health workers per 100,000.”WHO