Mental Health Conditions & Services in Selected African Countries: Implications for Social Work & Human Services Professions (Mental Illnesses and Treatments)

The mental-health conditions and services in most African countries are of great concern. There is a stark distinction of health disparities between urban and rural communities across these countries. There is an unequal divide in the allocation of resources for health related services, and mental health services have become a political decision more than the fair distribution of resources. The situation is even worse in the less developed countries across the various sub-regions. People all over the African continent are increasingly being affected by many common psychological and mental health disorders, as well as illnesses that go untreated for many years. This book is based on the assumption that there is a need to examine the conditions/services of mental health prevailing in different African countries to inform and educate people about the situation, and also to serve as an additional source of knowledge on African mental health issues. Additionally, there is a dearth of literature on mental health services from multiple African countries accessible through one anthology. Also notable is that the social work and human services professions in Africa lack textbooks written by indigenous African educators on pertinent issues affecting the people in the continent. Therefore, this book serves to fill that gap and to contribute to literature concerning Africa. The book examines mental health conditions and services in terms of diagnoses, causes, treatment and psycho-social services provided by some countries in Africa, namely Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. Even though, mental health issues have been written about by some African mental health specialists and experts, the chapters in this book are written mostly by African social work professionals and psychologists, and this is presumably the first of its kind. Each country describes the situations, conditions, resources, stigma/discrimination, traditional beliefs and practices concerning mental health, and also discusses the ways to improve the conditions and services for these populations. About the Author Marie-Antoinette Sossou, MSW, PhD is an Associate Professor of Social Work at the College of Social Work, University of Kentucky and teaches social work practice, social policy, and global poverty. Her research focus and interests are international social work, mental health, feminist and gender issues, abuse of children, refugees, and social development. Dr. Sossou earned her doctoral degree in Social Work from the Graduate School of Social Work at University of Denver in Colorado. Dr. Sossou has published in journals and book chapters in areas of mental health and related issues concerning refugees, gender issues, child abuse and international social work and social justice. Prior to joining the University of Kentucky, she was a lecturer/head of Social Work Department at University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana and a Social Work Consultant for UNHCR in Accra, Ghana and also worked as a direct social work practitioner for twelve years in the Department of Social Welfare in Ghana.