Report: School mental health project in Somalia

A School psychiatric service has been established in Borama, Northern Somalia intended to raise mental health awareness in schools for both teachers and pupils about psychiatry, their recognition and referral to the outpatient department in Amoud University teaching hospital. The activities of the mental health project took place over six months and included workshops for school teachers. It was endorsed by both Amoud University and Ministry of Education of Somaliland. Within this period, we were able to work with school teachers, local educational board and parents on service development. They learned about psychiatric and behavioral disorders, identified 300 individuals who required referral to the hospital for consultation where they received free access to treatment and follow up. After the pilot project, the patients continued to receive therapy making Borama the first and the only town in Somalia where school students receive mental health care.