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 Charles Onyango-Obbo [@cobbo3](/creator/twitter/cobbo3) on x 551.8K followers
Created: 2025-07-16 17:44:14 UTC
Africa Has a Mental Health Crisis. The Continent Also Has The World’s Highest Suicide Rate, With X of The Top XX Countries With The Highest Suicide Rates Globally (Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Central African Rep)
AFRICA HAS A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. About XX million people in Africa suffer from depression, with depression rates among women as high as 20-25% in some communities. Depression is the leading cause of disability for African women.
In 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that XXX million people in Africa were affected by mental health conditions, up from XX million in 1990.
Africa has the world’s highest suicide rate at XX per XXXXXXX people, compared to the global average of X per XXXXXXX. Six of the top ten countries with the highest suicide rates globally are in Africa ( Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Central African Rep.).
For every completed suicide, there are an estimated XX attempts in Africa. By 2050, the burden of mental and substance use disorders in Africa is projected to increase by 130%, reaching approximately XX million years lived with disability.
Africa has only XXX psychiatrists per XXXXXXX people, compared to the global average of X per 100,000, and XXX mental health workers per XXXXXXX.
Government spending on mental health averages less than $XXXX per capita, far below the WHO’s recommended $X for low-income countries.
Cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance in Africa, with prevalence rates of XXX% to XXXX% in West and Central Africa, compared to the global average of 3.8%.
Opioid abuse, particularly tramadol, affects XXX% of people aged 15-64 in West and Central Africa, double the global average of 1.2%.
Opioid use, particularly heroin, is rising in East Africa (e.g., Kenya and Tanzania), with injecting drug use increasing HIV and hepatitis C transmission.
Drug trafficking, particularly cocaine (57 tonnes seized in or en route to West Africa between 2019–2022), fuels conflict and instability in regions like the Sahel.
High youth unemployment, poverty, and lack of prospects exacerbate substance abuse, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when school closures led to increased drug use among youth.
Africa’s role has shifted from a drug transit zone to a consumer market, increasing local availability of illicit substances.
In sub-Saharan Africa, XX% of adolescents report substance use, with mental health issues exacerbating vulnerability. In Uganda, traditional beliefs attributing mental illness to spiritual causes lead to harmful practices like exorcisms.
XXXXX engagements
**Related Topics**
[women](/topic/women)
[central african](/topic/central-african)
[mozambique](/topic/mozambique)
[zimbabwe](/topic/zimbabwe)
[eswatini](/topic/eswatini)
[lesotho](/topic/lesotho)
[rates](/topic/rates)
[countries](/topic/countries)
[Post Link](https://x.com/cobbo3/status/1945539991402348722)
[GUEST ACCESS MODE: Data is scrambled or limited to provide examples. Make requests using your API key to unlock full data. Check https://lunarcrush.ai/auth for authentication information.]
Charles Onyango-Obbo @cobbo3 on x 551.8K followers
Created: 2025-07-16 17:44:14 UTC
Africa Has a Mental Health Crisis. The Continent Also Has The World’s Highest Suicide Rate, With X of The Top XX Countries With The Highest Suicide Rates Globally (Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Central African Rep) AFRICA HAS A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. About XX million people in Africa suffer from depression, with depression rates among women as high as 20-25% in some communities. Depression is the leading cause of disability for African women. In 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that XXX million people in Africa were affected by mental health conditions, up from XX million in 1990. Africa has the world’s highest suicide rate at XX per XXXXXXX people, compared to the global average of X per XXXXXXX. Six of the top ten countries with the highest suicide rates globally are in Africa ( Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Central African Rep.). For every completed suicide, there are an estimated XX attempts in Africa. By 2050, the burden of mental and substance use disorders in Africa is projected to increase by 130%, reaching approximately XX million years lived with disability. Africa has only XXX psychiatrists per XXXXXXX people, compared to the global average of X per 100,000, and XXX mental health workers per XXXXXXX. Government spending on mental health averages less than $XXXX per capita, far below the WHO’s recommended $X for low-income countries. Cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance in Africa, with prevalence rates of XXX% to XXXX% in West and Central Africa, compared to the global average of 3.8%. Opioid abuse, particularly tramadol, affects XXX% of people aged 15-64 in West and Central Africa, double the global average of 1.2%. Opioid use, particularly heroin, is rising in East Africa (e.g., Kenya and Tanzania), with injecting drug use increasing HIV and hepatitis C transmission. Drug trafficking, particularly cocaine (57 tonnes seized in or en route to West Africa between 2019–2022), fuels conflict and instability in regions like the Sahel. High youth unemployment, poverty, and lack of prospects exacerbate substance abuse, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when school closures led to increased drug use among youth. Africa’s role has shifted from a drug transit zone to a consumer market, increasing local availability of illicit substances. In sub-Saharan Africa, XX% of adolescents report substance use, with mental health issues exacerbating vulnerability. In Uganda, traditional beliefs attributing mental illness to spiritual causes lead to harmful practices like exorcisms.
XXXXX engagements
Related Topics women central african mozambique zimbabwe eswatini lesotho rates countries