Spaces of resilience: Integration of psychiatric care and school listening for sustainable mental health in Burundi
Situation:
In Burundi, mental health is a serious public health issue, with alarming levels of psychological distress reported: 42.7% of people report having experienced a health problem related to “nerves”; 64.5% of the population report psychological distress; 8.3% of the population report having seriously considered suicide at least once in their life; 4.3% of the population report having attempted suicide at least once in their life. However, there are only 4 psychiatrists available nationwide and one neuropsychiatric center in Bujumbura with two branches in Ngozi and Gitega for specialized care.
Objectives:
The overall objective of this project is to sustainably improve access to quality, integrated, and adapted mental health services to promote the mental well-being of populations in the provinces of Butanyerera and Gitega, particularly vulnerable groups, using a rights-based approach.
- Number of staff trained and capable of detecting, referring, diagnosing, and treating patients
- Number of monthly stock-outs of medicines
- Comprehensive mental health services available in the two public district reference hospitals
- Percentage of children and adolescents followed in psychosocial support units
- Number of teacher-counsellors trained in mental health
- Number of school dropout
Measures include training health staff and teacher-counsellors, ensuring the availability of essential medicines, strengthening comprehensive mental health services in district reference hospitals, and enhancing school-based psychosocial support to improve care for children and adolescents and reduce school dropout.
The project sustainably strengthens the health system by integrating mental health into primary care and existing structures. Local ownership, training of community health workers and teacher-counsellors, co-developed tools with ministries, and BADEC’s capacity building ensure long-term sustainability and impact.
This project improves equitable access to quality mental health care in Burundi by integrating services into primary healthcare and schools. It trains health workers, community agents, and teachers, reduces stigma, and strengthens hospitals and medicine supply. It improves early detection and treatment, enhances child wellbeing, reduces school dropouts, and promotes social inclusion.
Further information: https://louvaincooperation.org/en
