Address mental health among Uganda’s youth

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OPINION

By Mercy Akankunda

Mental health challenges are quietly eroding the well-being of Uganda’s youth aged 15 to 24, who make up over 35% of the nation’s population. With more than 12 million young people shaping this demographic, as estimated by the 2024 Uganda National Population and Housing Census, their mental health is vital to Uganda’s future. Yet depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders are on the rise, driven by economic strain, cultural stigma, and recent disruptions.

The Ministry of Health reported in 2022 that the prevalence of mental disorders has surged from 24.2% before the COVID-19 pandemic to 32% since, with youth among the hardest hit. A 2019 study by Nakimuli-Mpungu and colleagues in The Lancet Psychiatry revealed that 17.6% of adolescents aged 10 to 19 face depression, while anxiety affects a similar portion. This worsened during the pandemic. A 2022 Makerere University study by Kajjimu and others found that 80.7% of university students showed symptoms of depression, driven by isolation and financial hardship.

Substance use adds another layer. Uganda records 9.5 litres of pure alcohol consumed per capita yearly, one of Africa’s highest rates, according to the World Health Organization’s 2023 report. The Uganda Youth Development Link’s 2021 survey shows that 28% of urban youth aged 15 to 24 drink alcohol regularly, often as a way to escape distress. About 15% use cannabis.

Many of these issues stem from deeper, interconnected struggles. Poverty affects 21.4% of Ugandans, per the 2023 Uganda Bureau of Statistics. Youth unemployment stands at 13.3% and is even higher in cities like Kampala. For many young people, the lack of opportunity fuels despair. Uganda’s exam-driven education system increases the pressure. Failure carries heavy social consequences. A 2020 study by Kaggwa and others in BMC Psychiatry links this academic stress to rising anxiety among secondary school students.

The scars of trauma also weigh heavily. In northern Uganda, the Lord’s Resistance Army conflict (1986–2006) left lasting damage. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects up to 26% of youth in the region. In areas like Bududa, where 43% of residents are under 25, frequent landslides disrupt communities and heighten mental strain. Cultural views further complicate the situation. Mental illness is often seen as a spiritual failure or weakness. This deters help-seeking, especially among young men who are taught to “stay strong.” The 2018 WHO-AIMS report found that only 50% of those with mental disorders seek formal care.

Gender plays a role too. Young women are especially vulnerable. According to UNICEF’s 2023 data, 19% are married before 18. Many also experience gender-based violence. A 2019 study by Kinyanda and colleagues found that these pressures double the risk of depression in young women compared to men. In this environment, substances become a crutch. Cheap liquor like waragi is easily available and widely used, often as a response to trauma and hardship. Regulation is weak. The pandemic intensified all of this. School closures from 2020 to 2022 affected 15 million learners, UNICEF reports. As incomes collapsed and routines vanished, mental health issues surged.

But Uganda’s mental health system is ill-equipped to cope. There is only one psychiatrist per million people. Just 28 psychiatric inpatient units exist, mostly in urban areas, according to the 2018 WHO-AIMS report. Yet 83% of Ugandans live in rural areas. Mental health receives only 1% of the national health budget, despite growing need. In contrast, traditional healers, who outnumber psychiatrists by 100 to 1, as Kigozi and colleagues noted in 2020, provide support to around 60% of rural patients, though their capacity is limited.

Addressing this crisis demands bold, targeted action. Increasing mental health funding to 5% of the national health budget, as recommended by WHO could help recruit more mental health workers and expand rural services. Community health workers can be trained to identify and refer youth in need. Schools can be key allies. Empowering teachers and peer groups to recognise and respond to distress may help lighten the emotional load early on. Reducing academic stress through skills-based learning is another step forward. Only 10% of youth access vocational programs, per 2024 Uganda Bureau of Statistics data.

Stigma must be tackled head-on. A national campaign using radio and social media, where 4.5 million Ugandans are active, according to DataReportal in 2025, could reshape perceptions. Traditional healers could be brought into the conversation to bridge cultural beliefs with clinical care. On substance use, enforcement of the 2019 Alcohol Control Bill could restrict access to cheap liquor and potentially reduce consumption by 15% over five years, as projected by the Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance. More youth-centred rehabilitation centres, offering counselling and safe recovery spaces, are urgently needed.

Youth empowerment should be a central strategy. Vocational programs in post-conflict and high-trauma areas can restore hope and purpose. Telehealth services, tailored for youth in both urban and rural areas, can bring support where physical clinics are absent. These interventions are not just ideas, they are necessary solutions.

Uganda’s youth are not just statistics. The 17.6% suffering from depression, the 28% turning to alcohol, and the millions without access to care reflect a crisis that can no longer be ignored. Poverty, trauma, and stigma are fueling mental distress while the health system strains to keep up. But there is hope. With better funding, early school-based interventions, community-based solutions, and culturally aware approaches, Uganda can reverse the tide.

In conclusion, this crisis demands a collective response. The government must lead by boosting mental health funding, enacting the Alcohol Control Bill, and scaling up rural services. But other actors matter too. Communities must challenge stigma. Educators can provide emotional support in classrooms. Healthcare workers must be equipped to spot and treat mental health needs early. Civil society should champion livelihoods and telehealth programs. Together, we can change the story for Uganda’s 12 million youth. Their well-being isn’t just a priority, it’s the foundation of the country’s future.

The writer is with Proven Foundation.  Mercyakankunda124@gmail.com