Continuous cycles of conflict, displacement, food insecurity, and extreme poverty have created overwhelming stress, while the stigma around mental health remains strong.
In South Sudan, poverty, violence, and displacement can sometimes overshadow mental health issues. Neglected by the health system and confronted by deep-rooted stigma, many people face their mental health struggles in silence, enduring a daily battle that goes unseen and unheard.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is one of the few organizations providing mental health services in South Sudan. “We receive many patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and postpartum depression affecting new mothers,” says Germando Kagomba, MSF mental health activity manager in Lankien. Between January and July 2024, MSF provided more than 9,600 mental health consultations and facilitated group discussions for 54,000 people across South Sudan. However, these efforts only scratch the surface of a dire need.
