St. George’s University Steps Up Initiatives to Strengthen Mental Health Care Across Africa
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 12 – As global communities mark Mental Health Awareness Month, Africa’s youth-driven population is confronting a silent epidemic of psychological distress, With World Health Organization reporting that in 2025 nearly 150 million people in Africa are battling mental health highlighting the scale of the crisis across the continent.
Despite this burden, access to care remains severely constrained, According to a 2025 UNICEF regional analysis, Africa has approximately 1.4 mental health workers per 100,000 people, compared to a global average of around 9 per 100,000.
This significant workforce gap continues to limit early diagnosis, treatment and long-term care across the continent, Suicide also remains a critical concern, ranking among the leading causes of death globally for young people aged 15–29. These developments underscore the ongoing need for accessible and effective mental health care.
St. George’s University (SGU) School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies, highlights the role of medical education in preparing future physicians to address mental health challenges through training in psychiatry and patient-centered care.
SGU emphasizes an approach to psychiatry education that encourages students to engage with patients thoughtfully and respectfully, recognizing the importance of understanding individual experiences.
“Psychiatry reminds us that medicine is not only about treating disease, but about understanding people, The most important humanistic lesson I impart to my students is that we are all humans, all worthy of the same dignity”, said Dr. Elizabeth Ryznar, Associate Chair of Psychiatry (US) and Professor of Medicine at SGU.
“Unfortunately, we still encounter stigma against psychiatric patients within the healthcare system and our broader society, and we need to remember that every person is doing the best they can”.
“The empathy and communication skills you can practice in your psychiatric rotation will make a big difference in whatever area of medicine you choose to practice in,” added Dr. Ryznar.
For African students who would like to pursue psychiatry, SGU outlines several potential areas of focus, including; Specific patient populations, such as those defined by diagnosis, cultural background, or forensic considerations.
Particular treatment approaches, including psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, or interventional psychiatry.
Diverse care settings, such as inpatient, outpatient, residential programs, partial hospitalization programs, or emergency departments.
In addition to academic training, SGU incorporates student well-being considerations into its programs these include maintaining structured schedules to balance life and rest, cultivating strong support systems with peers and mentor networks, engaging in hobbies outside of academics or work to relieve stress and recognizing when to step back and seek support.
SGU through its MD programs aims to prepare medical graduates with both clinical competencies and an awareness of patient-centered care principles.
In observance of Mental Health Awareness Month, SGU remains dedicated to training doctors who are prepared to meet evolving mental health needs with both skill and deep-seated empathy.
