Rare Mental Health Services in South Sudan at Risk as Funding Ends

Rare Mental Health Services in South Sudan at Risk as Funding Ends
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A new report reveals that mental health clinics in violence-prone South Sudan are both rare and in danger of closing, posing a significant obstacle to the country’s development, The New Arab reported. This is particularly concerning as the nation faces widespread mental health issues stemming from a civil war that began in 2013 and has resulted in massive displacement.

According to a project led by the charity Amref Health Africa, over one-third of the people screened showed signs of psychological distress or mental health disorders. This is a burden that has been largely unaddressed by the government’s health system, where services for mental health are nearly nonexistent. The project, which was launched in late 2022, aimed to provide mental health services to over 20,000 people but is now at risk as its funding from Italian and Greek sources is set to expire in November.

The country, which has the fourth-highest suicide rate in Africa and is thirteenth globally, is still grappling with the effects of a civil war between government troops and rebel forces. Despite a peace deal in 2018, hostilities have resumed, and violence persists. Widespread poverty, with over 90% of the population living on less than $2.15 per day, further exacerbates the mental health crisis. Last month, authorities in Juba reported 12 suicide cases in just one week.

The Catholic non-governmental organization Caritas is also attempting to help by offering stress management courses. However, experts are concerned about the long-term sustainability of such support as external funding dwindles.