Mental health and psychosocial support in the context of peacebuilding: lessons learned from Somalia

Abstract Conflict tends to break down health systems by damaging health care infrastructure, forcing health care workers to flee from dangerous work environments, and causing an upsurge in displacement, starvation and recurrent epidemics. In Somalia, three decades of conflict and ongoing humanitarian crises have profoundly impacted the physical and psychological well-being of the people. As part of the World Health Organization’s Health and Peace Initiative, the Government of Somalia, WHO and partners have implemented a project to integrate mental health and psychosocial support in the context of peacebuilding, the first of its kind in Somalia. The project encompassed training of health workers on mental health, provision of services, awareness and addressing the stigma and discrimination. Drawing on the project evaluation as well as primary research conducted as part of the project to understand the epidemiology of mental health and substance use issues in the project sites, valuable lessons have been learned from this multi-agency project implemented in a challenging context during the COVID-19 pandemic and an ongoing complex conflict and humanitarian crisis in South Central Somalia. This case study provides an overview of the project, delving into its conceptual framework, activities and outcomes. It highlights the challenges, lessons learned and recommendations. The lessons discussed below are derived from the implementation process, project outcomes, research findings, training and evaluation reports. The case study considered every aspect of the project to enable us to capture the process as well as outcomes.