Tag Archive for: Mental Health

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The Growing Need for Mental Health Support in Haiti

Mental Health Support in HaitiHaiti, a Caribbean country that shares an island with the Dominican Republic, faces an unstable government and frequent natural disasters that cause significant damage. Due to its geographical position, the country experiences natural calamities such as floods, earthquakes and hurricanes, leading to food insecurity and instability. Over the years, these challenges have forced many to leave in search of a better and safer life. Haiti is characterized not only by natural disasters but also by armed groups and violent gangs controlling some areas. These conditions have significantly impacted children, women and young individuals.

The Growing Need for Mental Health Support

While the need for medical care, education and food stability is visible and recognized, the psychological and mental health sphere has been significantly ignored. Efforts in social services, including mental health support, are essential. More than one in five Haitians face serious mental health challenges, and these conditions have led to increased stress, psychological issues, sleep problems, anxiety and depression, creating an immediate need for mental health support in Haiti.

Organizations Working for Mental Health in Haiti

The 2010 earthquake triggered a humanitarian crisis, affecting Haitians both in the country and in the U.S. due to relocation and cultural adjustment. The uncertainty and new challenges faced by Haitians, especially migrants, created a demand for mental health support. Haiti is one of the countries with the largest number of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operating for its recovery. In recent decades, especially after 2010, organizations such as Rebati Santé Mentale (RSM) have rushed to provide mental health support. RSM offers clinical services in the country and to the Haitian diaspora in the U.S., along with consultation and training on mental health for government agencies, schools, health care systems and community-based organizations. RSM is also dedicated to educating on the importance of mental health in well-being and the creation of stable communities. The nonprofit organization researches culturally sensitive mental health support in Haiti, contributing to a shift in global understanding.

The mental health support crisis extends beyond Haiti, affecting Haitian emigrants globally. Gemima St. Louis and Gina Dessources Benjamin address this by supporting Haitian communities in the U.S. through the Haitian Mental Health Network, which respects cultural values and language while promoting awareness of mental health illnesses and paths to wellness.

Looking Ahead

NGOs, organizations and movements continue to highlight and address this emergency. The issue is not limited to Haiti but affects Haitian migrants worldwide. As awareness grows and culturally sensitive approaches expand, sustained investment in mental health services remains essential to the long-term recovery and well-being of Haitian communities both at home and abroad

– Ilaria Alberti

Ilaria is based in Dublin, Ireland and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Policy Changes: Estonia’s Mental Health Challenges  

Estonia’s Mental Health ChallengesSince 1990, significant policy changes have been put in place to address Estonia’s mental health challenges. They aimed to create affordable access to mental health services and decrease the length of time people had to spend in psychiatric hospitals. 

Despite this, the need for mental health services is continuously increasing. In 2024, Estonian psychiatrists recorded a 4% increase in mental health and behavioral disorder diagnosis during outpatient visits than the previous year. The biggest increase was among children under 15, according to the National Institute for Health Development (TAI). This is because Estonians still face some challenges when it comes to seeking mental health support.

Challenges People with Mental Health Issues Face in Estonia

Challenges for people with mental health issues in Estonia include:

  • Waiting Lists: People often have to wait several months to be seen by a mental health specialist. In 2007, 13% of people in Estonia felt the need of a psychologist or counsellor but they did not get the help they needed in time due to the long waiting lists.
  • High Costs: Private mental health services are financially out of reach for many people in Estonia, as the costs often range between 50-100 euro.
  • Availability: There is a lack of availability of mental health professionals, which is the most prominent prevention of the national mental health development. Therefore, institutes can only treat patients when their condition is already critical and not beforehand.
  • Shortage in Workforce: The Estonian Qualifications Authority said Estonia is projected to need around 7,700 new health care workers in the next 10 years. However, the current training rate is only expected to produce only around 6,400, which means they will be 1,300 specialists.

Estonia has gradually implemented policy changes which aim to reduce Estonia’s mental health challenges.

How Poverty Affects Mental Health in Estonia

The Estonian government has been placing a large number of orphaned children in state-run institutions that have impoverishing conditions. For example, the children don’t have access to adequate resources or specialized staff. This means the children are at a higher risk of developing mental and behavioral issues because of their economic status. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has stated that Estonia needs to implement more open and rehabilitative care strategies to reduce the number of orphaned children with mental health issues.

Reducing Estonia’s Mental Health Challenges

From the early 1990s to 2003, the government closed large psychiatric hospitals and established family medicine as a specialty. It also established the publicly financed benefits package, which expanded mental health care in the region. The purchasing agency (Estonian Health Insurance Fund) provided this.

Furthermore, from 2004 to 2013, the role of mental health in primary health care was established through the development of policy frameworks and clinical guidelines, which allowed more family doctors to prescribe medicine for mental health conditions.

Additionally, since 2014, the government has consolidated and made numerous changes to the mental health services to further tackle Estonia’s mental health challenges. Some changes focused on establishing multidisciplinary primary health care with indirect benefits for mental health care. Others explicitly prioritized mental health care by making changes in how the government finances it.

Addressing Workforce Shortages

The Ministry has worked significantly to improve mental health services in Estonia, said Anne Randväli, the Head of Mental Health Department at the Ministry of Social Affairs in Estonia. They have addressed “workforce shortages” through state funding “residency or induction years for clinical psychologists and psychologist-counsellors since 2021.” The Ministry created “a coherent and sustainable system for training new specialists.” Before, “training largely depended on the personal resources of the professionals.”

Stepped Care Model for Mental Health

In 2024, the Ministry introduced a “stepped care model for mental health.” This model focuses on treating “common conditions such as depression and anxiety” through educating citizens on psychology and mental health and through specialists providing “digital self-help tools” or “low intensity intervention” to those with minor mental issues. This system provides support “at the earliest possible stage and progresses to more intensive services as needed” stated Randväli.

The findings of “the Estonian Human Development Report 2023” were used to create this model. EHDR’s current findings show that the current system resembles an “hourglass shape: relatively strong in terms of self-management and specialist care, but weak at the intermediate levels of community and primary care support.” The stepped care model will use “cost-effective solutions” to improve these intermediate levels, Randväli added.

The Outcomes of These Efforts

The national suicide rate dropped from 15.1% per 100,000 people in 2020 oecd.org to 14% per 100,000 in 2023. This is significantly lower than the suicide rates of countries such as Lithuania, which is at around 17% in 2023, or Korea which is at 24%. However, Estonia’s rate is still higher than many other countries. For example, Chile which is at 11% and Denmark at 9.5%.

Conclusion

The Estonian government has significantly improved their mental health services over the years through their policy changes, which have had a significant effect in extreme cases such as reducing the suicide rate. However, the mental health system is still seen as weak in terms of providing primary care support. The Ministry is working to further improve the mental health services through the stepped care model.

– Bianca Burdulea

Bianca is based in Sunderland, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Mental Health Support in Bangladesh After Natural Disasters Strike

Mental Health Support in BangladeshBangladesh ranks among the top countries in the world in terms of deaths and home displacements due to natural disasters. Between 1970 and 2005, half a million people died from natural disasters, primarily cyclones, floods, riverbank erosion and droughts. While the main responses to such devastation have been to the physical well-being of citizens and to rebuild infrastructure, another key issue is addressing the mental health concerns of those impacted.

Eastern Floods

In August 2024, more than 500,000 were forced from their homes and 71 were killed by devastating floods. The rivers and overall water levels in cities like Feni threatened to cover the rooftops of many buildings as the water levels reached up to 30 feet in some places. Citizens directed traffic to allow emergency vehicles to arrive faster. Acts of kindness included giving out hot meals and helping evacuate stranded individuals by boat.

Besides being impacted by the flood, people in such an altered environment are at greater risk of experiencing different forms of violence. To help mitigate this problem, the government provided women experiencing gender-based violence with safe shelters. Many of these women also received psychological first aid to help manage their trauma.

Psychological first aid is not a formalized therapy session. It provides a safe space for affected individuals to process trauma and helps connect people with additional disaster relief resources. The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) provided medical support for more than 83,000 individuals. Thousands also received psychological aid in the same place where medical support was provided.

People living in poverty can have their situations exacerbated by various circumstances, with extreme floods being one of the worst. About three-quarters of impoverished households see their economic situations worsen after a flood. Bangladesh lost over a million metric tons of food due to the 2024 floods, primarily rice and vegetables. This caused food prices to rise and led to increased inflation. Sixty-two percent of households regularly had scarce meals as a result.

Cyclone Sidr

A devastating Category 4 storm hit Bangladesh in November 2007, killing over 3,400 people, injuring 55,000 and displacing 500,000 from their homes. Beyond the physical damage, a quarter of those impacted by the storm suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The BDRCS organized a psychological first aid program to provide mental health support in Bangladesh after the storm. It included staff members as well as community volunteers, including 20 psychology students from Dhaka University. Over 400 additional volunteers were trained to help in highly affected areas. As part of the immediate recovery goals after the cyclone, the BDRCS aimed to help 20,000 people with psychosocial support.

The BDRCS also provided funding for individuals impacted by the storm to help them improve their situations. A woman named Misti built her own boat for a ferry service thanks to a grant from the BDRCS. She uses this boat to have a self-sustaining career and to help people escape dangerous situations when another major storm is on the horizon. There are many more success stories of people achieving financial independence thanks to BDRCS funding.

A Preemptive Plan of Action

In 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) in Bangladesh developed a preemptive plan to mitigate the effects of future natural disasters. The WHO will increase mental health support in Bangladesh before, during and after disasters and will also seek feedback from people in refugee camps to determine how they can be better supported.

At least 16% of people in Bangladesh experience a mental health challenge due to various circumstances beyond natural disasters. However, the actual number is estimated to be much higher due to many remaining undiagnosed or untreated. Since there is a predisposition toward worsening mental health after a natural disaster, it is helpful for care in some form to be set in place every step of the way.

– Logan Hessek

Logan is based in Northglenn, CO, US and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Lady Health Workers Treat Postpartum Depression in Pakistan

Postpartum Depression in PakistanAs many as one in four new mothers in low- and middle-income countries experience perinatal depression, which includes depression during and after pregnancy and rates in South Asia are among the highest in the world. Yet most affected women will never see a mental health professional. Pakistan has fewer than one psychiatrist per 100,000 people, far below the global average. Postpartum depression in Pakistan is one of the most under-treated drivers of household poverty and a program built around community health workers, rather than specialists, is helping to close that gap.

The Weight of Poverty for Pakistani Women

Poverty shapes everyday life for a large share of Pakistan’s population. The World Bank estimates that about 22.5% of Pakistanis lived below the national poverty line in fiscal year 2025, down from 25.3% the year before, with the September 2025 Pakistan Poverty, Equity and Resilience Assessment warning that earlier gains have been eroded by COVID-19, inflation, the 2022 floods and macroeconomic stress. Roughly 61% of the population lives in rural areas where formal mental health services are almost entirely absent. Poverty affects women differently than men.

In many low-income households, women carry the majority of unpaid caregiving and domestic work, have less independent income and less decision-making power over health spending and are more likely to be excluded from formal employment. Pakistan’s female labor force participation rate stood at around 24% in 2024, one of the lowest in South Asia. For a new mother struggling with untreated depression, the consequences ripple outward: lost wages, weaker bonds with a newborn, poorer infant nutrition and a tighter intergenerational cycle of disadvantage.

Postpartum Depression in Pakistan

Depression during and after pregnancy is one of the most common complications of childbirth and its effects reach beyond the mother. Research has linked maternal depression to pre-term birth, child under-nutrition and stunting, creating consequences that pass from one generation to the next. For families already living in poverty, the burden compounds. A mother struggling silently may find it harder to care for her infant, maintain household income or seek health services.

The stigma around mental illness deepens the problem. In a country where mental health care is concentrated in cities and where talking about depression often carries shame, rural and low-income women are the least likely to receive support and the most likely to be told their symptoms are simply part of motherhood.

Therapy Without Therapists

The response is the Thinking Healthy Program, a structured psychological intervention based on cognitive behavioral therapy and designed specifically for delivery by nonspecialists. It was developed in Pakistan by Professor Atif Rahman and colleagues and tested in a landmark cluster randomized controlled trial published in The Lancet in 2008. That trial, conducted with community health workers in rural Rawalpindi, roughly halved the risk of perinatal depression among mothers and improved infant health outcomes. The results drew international attention.

In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the Thinking Healthy manual and recommended the approach for treating perinatal depression in low-resource settings worldwide. The model has since been adapted across South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The program works because it does not depend on scarce specialists. Community health workers are trained to help mothers recognize negative thinking patterns, build supportive routines and strengthen family support, during the same home visits they already make for maternal and child health.

Building on the Lady Health Worker Network

In Pakistan, that delivery network already exists. The Lady Health Worker Program, launched in 1994, employs more than 100,000 women who provide primary health care to communities across the country, with a focus on maternal and child health in rural areas. Each worker is recruited from the community she serves, which helps build the trust that mental health support requires. A 2025 study in the Journal of Global Health confirmed that contact with Lady Health Workers during pregnancy and after birth is associated with stronger uptake of maternal and child health services. That existing relationship makes the workforce a natural vehicle for the Thinking Healthy Program.

Researchers have also tested versions delivered by trained peer volunteers from the community rather than government health workers. Indeed, a 2025 trial published in Nature Medicine, conducted in rural Rawalpindi, found that technology-assisted peer-delivered Thinking Healthy was as effective as the standard WHO version in sustaining remission of perinatal depression, offering a way to extend care where health workers are stretched thin. The work is led by the Human Development Research Foundation, an Islamabad-based research organization. Challenges remain. A 2024 analysis found that Lady Health Worker coverage in Sindh province reached only 43% of the population, with wide district-level gaps. Expanding mental health care depends on first strengthening and sustaining the network that delivers it.

Looking Ahead

Postpartum depression in Pakistan remains widespread and under-treated and no single program will resolve it. Yet the Thinking Healthy Program shows that effective care does not require a psychiatrist in every village. By training community health workers and peers to deliver evidence-based therapy, Pakistan has built a model that is both affordable and proven. With sustained investment in the Lady Health Worker network, treatment for postpartum depression can become a route out of a hidden cycle of poverty for the rural and low-income mothers who need it most.

– Amna Al Harrazi

Amna is based in Dubai, UAE and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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4 Key Facts About Mental Health in Nicaragua

Mental Health in NicaraguaMental health struggles in Nicaragua are largely unobserved and underreported. Discussions surrounding public health issues, poverty-stricken communities, limited infrastructure and unequal access to care are far from the limelight. Global attention surrounding the mental health crisis has risen in recent years. 

Yet Nicaragua faces significant barriers that prevent its citizens from receiving adequate care and support. Understanding mental health in Nicaragua requires examining both economic conditions and the healthcare system that serves the population.

Mental Health Struggles and Poverty Have a Close Link

Mental health in Nicaragua is closely linked to poverty, with about 25% of the population living in poverty, according to the World Food Program (WFP). Individuals in Nicaragua are exposed to stressors like food insecurity, economic instability and limited access to basic services for survival. These socioeconomic pressures lead to lifelong struggles and psychological distress.  

Addressing the mental health struggles linked to life in Nicaragua’s economy is complicated by financial hardship and limited access to care.

Not Enough Mental Health Professionals Are Available

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nicaragua has approximately 610 mental health workers nationwide, including psychologists, psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses. There is only one mental health facility in the whole country, which is located in Managua, called Hospital Psiquiátrico Nacional. Fewer mental health resources and access to care mean an insufficient amount of treatment and awareness. 

Mental health issues are not as prioritized as other health problems, leaving people untreated and without support.

Based on the WHO-AIMS evaluation data reported for Nicaragua (circa 2004), the government allocated about 1% of the overall health budget to mental health. The lack of attention and investments leads to minimal resources for the institutions already established. It creates growing concern for mental illnesses left untreated. 

Due to Nicaragua’s political instability and recurring natural disasters, mental health care is often not prioritized. These challenges contribute to poor mental health outcomes, yet according to research published in Global Health Action, fewer than 25% of the population receive treatment.

Stigma, high costs of care, a limited number of trained professionals and a lack of services and facilities all contribute to the ongoing crisis in mental health and create significant barriers. While national efforts to address mental health needs represent progress, the primary challenge lies in how effectively funds are allocated.

Final Remarks

Mental health care in Nicaragua faces significant challenges due to underreporting, limited resources and widespread poverty, all of which restrict access to treatment. While developed countries are placing greater emphasis on mental health, developing nations like Nicaragua continue to face financial and political barriers that limit adequate care for citizens. In response to these challenges, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) returned to Nicaragua in 2018 to provide psychosocial support. 

The organization assisted people experiencing anxiety, adjustment disorders and post-traumatic stress after witnessing or enduring violence linked to civil and political unrest.

– Suheiry Frayre

Suheiry is based in Los Angeles, CA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Mental Health Resources in Uganda

Mental Health Resources in UgandaUganda has an international poverty rate of almost 60% as of 2019. With so many people living in poverty, the mental health crisis in Uganda is serious. Poverty raises rates of depression and anxiety, while Uganda’s history of civil conflict has also increased cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As one of the top six countries in Africa with the highest rates of people suffering from depressive disorders, Uganda’s mental health care system is overcrowded and struggling to keep up with the country’s needs.

However, programs have been developed to increase mental health resources in Uganda, such as YouBelong Uganda and Pamoja Afya Initiative.

YouBelong Uganda

Founded in 2016, YouBelong Uganda works to deinstitutionalize people from mental institutions and focus on support through the community. A major concern surrounding mental health resources in Uganda is that many people become trapped in institutional systems and are unable to reacclimate to their communities. YouBelong uses “The YouBelong linked model of engagement and care [to build] a bridge between the institution and the community.”

A key part of this is that YouBelong provides transport for people from institutions back to their communities. YouBelong also uses government resources to prepare the individual for community life and to prepare the community to best support the individual.

The YouBelong HOME is a section of YouBelong that focuses on addressing the inflow and outflow problems at the national mental institution. It works to reintegrate between 40 and 60 people a month from Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital back into their communities. To reduce inflow to the mental hospital, YouBelong is working to expand resources at local health centers to help people before they reach institutionalization.

YouBelong has several programs under its wing. These programs address issues such as inequalities in mental health care for women, early intervention for children experiencing mental health issues, psychosis and learning from the experiences of those in recovery. YouBelong Uganda is a large organization that works at many levels to increase access to mental health resources in Uganda.

Pamoja Afya Initiative

Pamoja Afya focuses on communities surrounding Uganda’s national parks and was founded in 2024. This organization operates on a much broader scale, covering topics such as water and sanitation, snakebite prevention and coexistence with wildlife. Among its many programs, Pamoja Afya Initiative also has a mental health program that provides targeted interventions to help communities.

The initiative brings awareness to youth in schools about disorders such as depression, substance abuse and PTSD. These awareness programs teach students emotional regulation, healthy coping mechanisms and relationship building. Pamoja Afya also works with teachers to foster a more emotionally safe learning environment. 

It equips teachers with the tools to support their students and themselves. The program also conducts mental health screenings and gives those diagnosed with mental health issues access to resources.

Conclusion

Programs like YouBelong Uganda and Pamoja Afya Initiative are helping bridge the gap in access to proper mental health resources that many Ugandan citizens lack. By giving small communities resources to address mental health problems early on, people are better able to cope with the growing mental health crisis. YouBelong then steps in to help reintegrate people into their communities and get the support they need.

Mental health resources in Uganda are few and far between, but certain organizations are working to increase access for more people.

– Kaitlyn Crane

Kaitlyn is based in Rohnert Park, CA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Surf Therapy for South Africa’s Youth Mental Health

Surf TherapyAn estimated 70% of South Africans aged 15 to 24 struggle with mental health challenges, with the highest prevalence reported in the Western Cape and Cape Town. Many young people in South Africa face racism, violence and poverty, underscoring the need for effective, sustainable mental health initiatives in the region. Yet only one in 10 people has access to mental health treatment. Waves for Change is a local nonprofit working to address this crisis through a unique approach: surf therapy.

About Waves for Change

Waves for Change was founded in 2009 and officially became a registered nonprofit in 2011. Before then, the organization began as voluntary weekend surfing sessions at Muizenberg Beach in Cape Town, led by its two founders, Apish Tshetsha and Tim Conibear. From there, the nonprofit quickly expanded with support from universities, mental health practitioners and a dedicated team of relatable surf coaches. 

Operating across the Western Cape and Eastern Cape of South Africa, the organization combines the adrenaline of surfing with its Take 5 model:

  • Energizers: Short, engaging physical activities designed to boost energy and sharpen focus.
  • Emotional check-ins: Structured, safe spaces that help participants identify and express their emotions.
  • Paced breathing exercises: Simple breathing techniques that help calm the nervous system.
  • Self-regulation games: Play-based activities that teach emotional control and encourage future planning.
  • Emotional check-outs: Reflective activities that reinforce the lessons above and help ensure emotional safety before completing the Take 5 model.

The Surf Therapy Program

The fight to improve mental health support in high-stress environments has grown significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Waves for Change has delivered free surf therapy programs to 2,800 adolescents living in high-stress environments and has trained 215 coaches who have gone on to support more than 10,000 young people. The organization also shares its evidence-based protocols globally through its website, allowing surf schools around the world to adopt this sustainable, community-driven approach.

In essence, the surf therapy program teaches participants essential self-regulation skills while supporting healthier emotional and behavioral responses to the daily stress many South African youth face. Documented short-term benefits include a stronger sense of belonging among peers and opportunities to develop new social skills. They also include an engaging approach to stress management and emotional well-being while encouraging more positive future goal-setting.

Long-term benefits include reduced risky behavior, greater confidence and emotional control and lower stress levels. They may also include improved physiological responses and a reduced risk of developing mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse.

Final Remarks

With 90% of the world’s adolescents living in low- and middle-income countries, exposure to toxic stress and unpredictable environments poses a significant risk to youth mental health. South Africa continues to face high rates of violent crime, social inequality and widespread poverty. However, in response, Waves for Change is helping support some of the country’s most vulnerable communities in the Cape through a unique approach: surf therapy.

– Alyssa Forget

Alyssa is based in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Healing Gaza’s Children: Teachers As Mental Health Workers

Healing Gaza’s Children: Why Teachers Are Frontline Mental Health WorkersIn Gaza, more than half of the children needed mental health support even before October 2023. Psychologists warn that more than 80% of Gaza’s children show symptoms of severe trauma, highlighting the urgency of addressing mental health among Gaza’s children. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Middle East and North Africa Regional Director Edouard Beigbeder stated that one million children have endured daily violence, leaving them with deep emotional wounds. However, psychosocial support from teachers who continue to provide lessons and mental health services has positioned them as frontline mental health workers, allowing children to process their emotions.

Beyond PTSD

Dr. Aneeza Pervez urges psychologists to reflect on how they respond to the suffering of children in contexts of war and extreme violence, arguing that healing Gaza’s children requires psychologists to address the issue openly. She asks whether silence or neutrality in the face of widespread harm is compatible with the responsibilities of psychology, as children in Gaza are individuals entitled to safety, dignity, care and psychological support.

Psychotherapist Teresa Bailey explains that trauma rewires a child’s brain and argues that these children do not suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but something more severe, because they experience traumatic terror daily.

Red Paint, Silence and Rap

A young girl from Deir al-Balah, a displacement camp in Gaza, used only red in an art therapy session, overcome by memories of violence following repeated bombings. Humanitarian practitioners should track child mental health and protection as a separate priority from wider health clusters because the funding allocated to psychosocial support remains unclear. Training teachers to support and offer pathways for these children to communicate and release their emotions is essential.

Asal al-Ladawi, 9, suffered from traumatic mutism after witnessing the death of her mother in a bombing. However, psychotherapy techniques such as virtual reality programs have aided children like her in finding their voices again and rebuilding a sense of security.

MC Abdul is a teenager who left Gaza and makes music about the ongoing suffering of people there, as well as his family. His song “The Pen & The Sword,” released in 2023, addresses the lost dreams of children living in Gaza.

Teachers as Healers

According to a 2019 report, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) received only 0.14% of Overseas Development Assistance funding between 2015 and 2017. In Gaza, SOS Children’s Villages provides specialized psychosocial support programs to help integrate children and adolescents through recreational activities. Zoya Thatlgieh of SOS Children’s Villages Palestine stated that when a child opens up to someone they trust, recovery is always possible. According to a report in October 2025, SOS Children’s Villages provided mental health assistance to 30,632 children in Gaza.

Teacher Ahmed Abu Riziq set up schools in tents to bring structure and learning to his pupils. Abu Riziq and his colleagues launched Gaza Great Minds in 2024. By 2025, more than 3,000 students between the ages of 3 and 16 were receiving lessons in tents alongside professional psychiatric support.

In displacement camps south of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip, more teachers have set up schools in tents. Teacher Abdulsalam explained that these tents have become a line of defense, describing education in the camps as a form of therapy as well as a source of knowledge. Teachers can detect behavioral changes in children and can support the mental health of young people in Gaza.

Hadeel al-Gharbawi, a Palestinian teacher, helps children cope with trauma through yoga practice. These classes allow children to step away from their fears and feel in control, even if only temporarily. The tent also offers educational and other recreational programs for displaced children.

Evidence of Success

Education International member organizations from South Africa, the U.K., Portugal, Italy, Spain and Australia set up a joint initiative to support the General Union of Palestinian Teachers. The project trains hundreds of female teachers across the region and financially assists teachers in Gaza and the West Bank.

Similar programs such as the Syrian American Mental Health Network have delivered and supervised training on Teaching Recovery Techniques to large numbers of children in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM) has reached more than 50,000 displaced Syrians through school and camp programs, offering telepsychiatry through Yale University.

This demonstrates that teachers trained in basic mental health support can play a meaningful role in healing Gaza’s children.

Looking Ahead

Teachers can become a major lifeline for children in Gaza if they receive training in psychological first aid, helping to reduce the effects of conflict on young people. Healing Gaza’s children requires trained teachers, sustained funding and continued international support.

– Anisa Begum

Anisa is based in Birmingham, UK and focuses on Business and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Organizations Advance Equitable Health Care in Eritrea

Health Care in EritreaAlthough health care in Eritrea has improved in important areas, such as declining mortality rates, over the past decade, vulnerable populations and rural communities continue to face the adverse effects of health care disparities. Several international organizations and community-based programs work to bridge the gap and increase accessibility to quality health services.

Health Care Disparities in Eritrea

Numerous disparities in health care access and services exist between urban and rural populations in Eritrea. The percentage of women receiving antenatal care from a health care professional in Eritrea increased significantly from 49% in 1995 to 70% in 2002. However, access remained uneven, with 91% of women in urban areas receiving antenatal care compared to just 59% in rural areas

A similar disparity appears in facility-based childbirth. In urban areas, the proportion of women giving birth in a health facility rose from 58% in 1995 to 62% in 2002. In contrast, the figure for rural women increased only slightly, from 7% to 9% over the same period.

Disparities in access to obstetric services were also evident across education levels. In 2002, approximately 88% of women with some secondary education were assisted by a trained health worker during childbirth, compared with 36% of women with only primary education and just 12% of those with no formal education.

Multiple disparities also exist in child health outcomes:

  • In 2002, the infant mortality rate was 48 per 1,000 live births in urban areas, compared to 62 per 1,000 in rural areas.
  • The under-5 mortality rate stood at 86 per 1,000 in urban areas, rising to an average of 117 per 1,000 in rural communities.
  • Stunting affected 20% of children whose mothers had higher education, compared with 35% of children whose mothers had primary education and 44% of those whose mothers had no formal education.

Disparities in Mental Health Treatment

Due to the increasing prevalence of mental health disorders in Eritrea, mental illnesses are among the leading causes of disability, comorbidity and mortality in the country. In 2014, the prevalence rate for common mental disorders was 14.5% and the estimated number of children with intellectual disabilities was between 30,000 and 40,000. However, because adequate mental health workers and services are limited, many mental illnesses and disorders are likely undetected or misdiagnosed.

Nonetheless, several organizations provide essential support to Eritrean refugees. Around 5,000 people flee the country each month to escape hardship and mandatory military service, increasing the need for mental health services in refugee camps. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) launched a mental health program in 2015 in Ethiopia’s Hitsats and Shimelba camps, offering counselling and inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care.

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) also provides Mental Health and Psychosocial Support through counselling, psychological first aid, referrals and community-based activities that strengthen social connection and resilience.

Expanded Program on Immunization

The World Health Organization (WHO) identified physical barriers as a major challenge to immunization coverage in rural communities. In response, WHO implemented the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in Eritrea to improve vaccine access, reaching more than 42,000 children and 150,000 mothers. By 2024, the program achieved national immunization coverage rates exceeding 95% for several vaccines.

UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Eritrea

The country program for Eritrea, outlined in the U.N. Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022-2026, aims to enable more Eritreans to benefit from equitable and inclusive health and social services by 2026. The program outlines some goals for improved health and social services, including:

  • Increase the percentage of births attended by trained personnel from 71% to 85% to reduce preventable maternal deaths. 
  • Reduce the adolescent birth rate for girls aged 15-19 years from 27 per 1,000 to 14 per 1,000.

To achieve these goals, the program implemented several interventions, including:

  • Strengthening the capacity of health workers: Training doctors, nurses, midwives and anesthetists across Eritrea to provide quality emergency obstetric care, post-partum care, family planning, HIV prevention and gender-based violence support.
  • Building health system resilience: Deploying internationally trained obstetricians and gynecologists to remote and underserved areas, supported by technology to improve communication and service delivery nationwide.
  • Increasing access to maternal waiting homes (MWHs): Expanding and improving MWHs, which provide accommodation for pregnant women from remote areas during the final weeks of pregnancy, to enhance safe deliveries and postnatal care.
  • Advocacy: Promoting awareness of preventable maternal deaths and unmet family planning needs to inform government policies, planning and budgeting.
  • Supporting the National Fistula Diagnosis and Treatment Center (NFDTC): Strengthening services for fistula prevention, treatment and rehabilitation to ensure adequate national coverage.
  • Expanding adolescent and youth services: Strengthening and utilizing the existing network of youth-friendly centers to improve access to care.
  • Strengthening HIV prevention services: Enhancing delivery of HIV prevention interventions, particularly for high-risk populations such as female sex workers.
  • Empowering women and young people to use health services: Using community outreach and mobilization to increase uptake of HIV and gender-based violence services.
  • Reinforcing health information systems: Reestablishing and improving health management information systems, including maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response mechanisms.

Additionally, the country program works in collaboration with UNICEF and the WHO to strengthen the distribution and supply chain systems for medicines and medical supplies across Eritrea. This joint initiative aims to address unmet needs in family planning, reduce preventable maternal deaths and combat gender-based violence and harmful practices.

Community-Based Programs

  • Malnutrition Screening and Detection: UNICEF and the Ministry of Health (MoH) work together to train community health volunteers to use mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tapes to screen for and detect malnutrition in children under 5 and to provide referrals for treatment. These volunteers deliver life-saving interventions to approximately 50,000 acutely malnourished children each year.
  • Bare Foot Doctors Initiative (BFDs): BFDs trained through UNICEF help strengthen community-based service delivery in areas facing geographic barriers to health care. Their deployment has enabled 68,000 women and children to access essential public health services. By 2022, UNICEF had trained a total of 121 community members as BFDs.
  • Community Health Workers (CHWs): CHWs are a key component of community-based child health interventions in the Maekel Region aimed at reducing child mortality. Indeed, CHWs provide case management for pneumonia, malaria and diarrhea, the leading causes of death among children under 5 and lead community education sessions on child health. The MoH provides training and oversees the distribution of medical supplies and medications used by CHWs. The program has improved access to health care services and strengthened relationships between the MoH and local communities across the Maekel Region.

Conclusion

Notable work is being done to improve health care in Eritrea. Trained CHWs and volunteers extend services to areas previously out of reach. Organizations implementing health interventions benefit vulnerable populations and areas, including Eritrean refugees.

Organizations implementing health interventions are reaching vulnerable populations, including Eritrean refugees and helping to close existing care gaps. Together, these initiatives continue to drive progress toward a more equitable health care system in Eritrea.

– Sarah Merrill

Sarah is based in Matthews, NC, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Yoga Alleviates Child Poverty in India

Child Poverty in IndiaDespite India’s rich culture, food and traditions, stark gaps in wealth and education persist. Moni Basu of CNN reports that approximately 35% of Indians are illiterate, meaning they cannot read or write. Of the country’s nearly 1.3 billion people, about 60% live on less than $3.10 a day and 21% (more than 250 million people) survive on less than $2 a day.

The caste system reinforces these inequalities. Jill Lawson of HuffPost writes that many Indians are “rich in spirituality yet struggling to survive.” At the same time, wealth at the top continues to grow. According to BBC reporter Meryl Sebastian, the number of billionaires in India rose to 166 from 102 in 2020 alone, reflecting a system shaped by inherited wealth and social status.

Sebastian also reports that taxing the country’s top 100 billionaires at 2.5% could nearly fund the cost of returning an estimated 150 million children to school.

Child Poverty in India

For those not living in luxury, daily life is marked by limited access to education, unemployment or underemployment, inadequate health care infrastructure and persistent social inequalities. Discrimination based on caste, gender and ethnicity often creates cycles of poverty that are difficult for future generations to escape. UNICEF India Representative, Cynthia McCaffrey, notes that improving children’s well-being requires a “collective will” and is not solely dependent on resources.

Some organizations argue that yoga can help address child poverty by fostering mental well-being and community. Accessible to both the affluent and the less fortunate, yoga promotes calmness and a shared purpose, creating a more supportive environment for learning and personal growth. According to Yogift, the benefits of yoga are wide-ranging, with regular practitioners reporting improvements in daily life, self-awareness and relationships with others.

How Does Yoga Alleviate Child Poverty in India?

Yoga classes can offer several benefits, particularly for children living in poverty. They:

  1. Provide mindfulness and resilience. These sessions provide a break from daily life, where minds are taken off of hardship outside. Students gradually develop inner strength and willpower that they can take home with them.
  2. Build a community. Children feel safe making friends and coming out of their shells. They will feel less alone and it makes the day-to-day that little bit easier.
  3. Improve physical health. By building physical strength, students are less likely to contract illnesses and injuries, thereby increasing attendance at school and reducing stress on health care systems.

Organizations Using Yoga To Address Child Poverty

YoGift, founded in 2020, works to combat child poverty by highlighting the health and economic challenges faced by children in India. The organization notes that about one-third of Indian children suffer from lung problems caused by pollution and unsafe living conditions. At the same time, limited access to job training perpetuates generational poverty.

YoGift raises funds in the United Kingdom (U.K.) through workshops, events, donations and partnerships. Proceeds support Harmony House, a children’s day center in Delhi founded in 2010. The center serves more than 1,000 children daily, providing support in areas such as well-being, education, nutrition and career preparation.

Since its inception, the group has raised more than $8,000 for Harmony House. Another organization, Yoga Gives Back, founded in 2006, also emphasizes community through yoga-based fundraising. Its Sister Aid program provides primary education to about 600 girls and abandoned children and offers microloans to nearly 600 mothers.

The organization’s Scholarship for Higher Education program supports approximately 440 disadvantaged youths who are pursuing college degrees. According to Yoga Gives Back, these efforts have helped approximately 600 girls avoid child labor or early marriage and provided additional educational support to around 800 rural children following the COVID-19 school closures.

Balancing Bodies and Economies

McCaffrey shed light on India’s vast progress on poverty reduction and how “India’s flagship programs have supported investments in children, putting India on track for SDG 1.2 ahead of the 2030 endline.” Evidence of this progression is presented in the World Bank Group’s 2025 Report. It states that rural poverty has decreased from 64.9% to 27.7% and urban poverty decreased from 39.7% to 14.3%.

Despite this progression, there is still further to go. The top 1% of the country’s population still holds 73% of the wealth. Empowering and educating India’s next generation means investing in not only its economy but its people.

The Bhagavad Gita itself invites us to “participate actively in the world, [we are] encouraged to fight for justice and righteousness.” Through practices such as yoga and its mass funding opportunities, we can all use this soft power to make life that little bit more equal, one balance at a time.

– Gemma Nailer

Gemma is based in Manchester, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr