In Côte d’Ivoire, mental health issues are still largely taboo and suicide rates are particularly high. To tackle this issue, a conference was held this weekend of February 25-26 at the Bushman Hotel in Abidjan, organized by the NGO GT Foundation. The event was a success, with the panelists, mental health professionals or activists, raising awareness about the issue.
Psychotherapist Nour Bakayoko offered several explanations for the high suicide rate in the country, such as the tendency to trivialize mental illnesses and the psychological consequences of the crisis of 2002, 2011 and the various mutinies. Psychologist Yasmine Mouaine, specializing in neuropsychology, also noted that attitudes are starting to change and that social networks are helping to break stereotypes and allow people to feel less alone.
However, there is still a lot of work to be done to raise awareness about mental health in Côte d’Ivoire, as there are only 35 conventional care establishments throughout the country. It is therefore essential to continue to raise awareness and provide more resources to ensure that those suffering from mental health issues get the help they need.