NAIROBI, Kenya, May 18-Africa’s widening mental health crisis is emerging as both a public health challenge and an economic risk, with experts warning that a severe shortage of psychiatric professionals could deepen productivity losses, strain healthcare systems and leave millions without access to treatment.
The concerns come as new data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows nearly 150 million people in Africa were living with mental health conditions in 2025, even as the continent continues to grapple with a critical shortage of trained mental health workers.
According to a 2025 UNICEF regional analysis, Africa has approximately 1.4 mental health workers per 100,000 people, far below the global average of about nine workers per 100,000, underscoring the scale of the workforce deficit facing healthcare systems.
The shortage is increasingly placing pressure on governments and medical institutions to expand training pipelines for psychiatrists and mental health specialists amid rising demand for care linked to urbanisation, unemployment, social pressures and post-pandemic economic stress.
Medical training institutions are now positioning psychiatry education as part of broader efforts to strengthen healthcare capacity and improve access to treatment across underserved regions.
“Psychiatry reminds us that medicine is not only about treating disease, but about understanding people,” said Elizabeth Ryznar, Associate Chair of Psychiatry at St. George’s University.
“The most important humanistic lesson I impart to my students is that we are all humans, all worthy of the same dignity. Unfortunately, we still encounter stigma against psychiatric patients within the healthcare system and our broader society, and we need to remember that every person is doing the best they can. The empathy and communication skills you can practice in your psychiatric rotation will make a big difference in whatever area of medicine you choose to practice in,” she continued.
Mental health specialists say the shortage of trained professionals continues to limit early diagnosis and treatment, increasing the long-term economic burden associated with untreated mental illness, including lost workplace productivity and rising healthcare costs.
Suicide also remains a major concern globally, particularly among people aged between 15 and 29 years, adding to pressure on policymakers to prioritise investment in mental health services and specialist training.
St. George’s University says its psychiatry training exposes students to different patient groups, treatment approaches and care settings as part of efforts to prepare graduates for evolving healthcare demands.
The university also says its programmes incorporate student wellness support, including structured schedules, peer support systems and stress management approaches aimed at reducing burnout among medical trainees.
