Access to mental health services in Eritrea, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and the Greater Horn of Africa region

Over the past ten years, Eritrea, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia have consistently featured among the top twenty nationalities applying for asylum in the United Kingdom. People across the Greater Horn of Africa region face significant challenges in accessing mental health services, compounded by widespread stigma and cultural barriers that deter individuals from seeking help. Mental health services in the region suffer from limited resources and lack of funding, a shortage of trained professionals, and a lack of supportive national policies and legislation. There is a pressing need for basic psychosocial support, counselling, substance abuse services, and greater integration and prioritisation of mental health within broader health and social care systems. Recognising mental health as an essential part of the right to health for both citizens and refugees is crucial. Governments and international actors must invest in developing healthcare systems that can meet these needs, mobilising political will and funding to alleviate the substantial yet often invisible burden of psychological suffering among displaced populations. Achieving the goal of “no health without mental health” remains a distant but necessary aspiration.