St. George’s University Champions Training of Future Psychiatrists Amid Africa’s Mental Health Crisis
By Peace Muthoka
Nairobi, May 12, 2025 – As the world marks Mental Health Awareness Month, concern is mounting over Africa’s deepening mental health crisis, with experts warning that millions are struggling to access treatment due to a severe shortage of specialists.
Recent figures show the scale of the challenge facing the continent. In 2025, the World Health Organization estimated that nearly 150 million people in Africa were living with mental health conditions, placing immense pressure on families, healthcare systems, and communities.
Yet while the number of people needing care continues to rise, access to mental health services remains limited.
A 2025 regional analysis by UNICEF revealed that Africa has only about 1.4 mental health workers for every 100,000 people, significantly lower than the global average of approximately nine workers per 100,000 people.
As a result, many patients continue to face delayed diagnosis, limited treatment options, and inadequate long-term support.
The situation is even more worrying among young people, with suicide remaining one of the leading causes of death globally among those aged between 15 and 29 years.
The growing burden has now renewed calls for urgent investment in mental healthcare and the training of more professionals to bridge the widening gap.
It is against this backdrop that St. George’s University School of Medicine (SGU) is spotlighting the role of medical education in preparing future psychiatrists capable of responding to the continent’s evolving mental health needs.
The university says psychiatry training should extend beyond diagnosing illnesses and prescribing treatment. Instead, future doctors must also learn to understand patients’ personal experiences and approach them with compassion and dignity.
According to SGU, psychiatry offers one of the clearest reminders that medicine is deeply human and requires empathy just as much as clinical knowledge.
“Psychiatry reminds us that medicine is not only about treating disease, but about understanding people,” said Dr. Elizabeth Ryznar.
Dr. Ryznar said one of the most important lessons she teaches students is to treat every patient with equal dignity regardless of their mental condition.
“The most important humanistic lesson I impart to my students is that we are all humans, all worthy of the same dignity,” she said.
At the same time, she acknowledged that stigma against psychiatric patients still exists both within healthcare systems and society, often creating barriers to treatment and recovery.
“Every person is doing the best they can,” she added, while emphasizing that communication and empathy developed during psychiatry training can benefit doctors in any medical specialty.
For African students interested in psychiatry, SGU says the profession offers several pathways for specialization.
Some psychiatrists choose to work with specific groups of patients based on diagnosis, cultural background, or forensic mental health needs. Others focus on treatment methods such as psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, or interventional psychiatry.
Additionally, professionals in the field can work across different healthcare settings, including inpatient and outpatient facilities, residential treatment centres, emergency departments, and partial hospitalization programmes.
Beyond academics, the institution also emphasizes the importance of protecting the mental well-being of medical students.
SGU encourages learners to maintain balanced schedules, build strong support systems through peers and mentors, pursue hobbies outside medicine, and seek help whenever stress becomes overwhelming.
The university says these measures help prepare future doctors not only to care for patients but also to manage their own mental well-being.
Through its medical programmes, SGU says it aims to equip graduates with strong clinical knowledge while promoting patient-centered care rooted in empathy and understanding.
As Africa continues to grapple with rising mental health challenges, experts believe that investing in psychiatric training and tackling stigma could help expand access to care and improve the lives of millions across the continent.
