Burden, Drivers, and Impacts of Poor Mental Health in Young People of West and Central Africa: Implications for Research and Programming

This chapter summarizes existing research on mental health among young people in West and Central Africa (WCA). Although data in this area are limited, small scale, nonrepresentative studies suggest that mental disorders are prevalent in WCA due to civil conflicts and political instability, sexual violence, poverty, underemployment and unemployment, substance abuse, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS among other factors. Mental health conditions put young people in the subregion at risk for poor schooling, health, and livelihood outcomes, exposing them to stigma, isolation, discrimination, and human rights abuses. These findings highlight the need to scale up effective interventions that ensure appropriate and timely access to mental health and minimize the long-term impacts of untreated mental health disorders. Findings also underscore the need for more data on prevalence, risk, and protective factors.