Healing the Mind in a Nation Rebuilding: Understanding Mental Health in Conflict-Affected Somalia
For more than three decades, Somalia has carried invisible wounds—trauma, displacement, and grief caused by conflict and crisis. But while the world often sees the struggle for peace and development, the silent battle for mental well-being continues inside homes, camps, and communities. A new study published in Frontiers in Public Health by Salad et al. (2023) revealed a startling reality: nearly 8 out of 10 Somalis living in conflict-affected areas experience symptoms of mental disorders , including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Among them, almost one in three lives with PTSD. Behind these numbers are human stories—young men haunted by war memories, women suffering silently after gender-based violence, and children growing up amid fear and loss. Yet hope is rising. Across Somalia, organizations such as the Habeeb Mental Health Organization , in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Federal Ministry of Health , are le...