Prevalence and regional disparities in probable mental health conditions among persons aged 10 years and older in Uganda: Evidence from the 2024 National Population and Housing Census

Background: Despite the growing global burden of mental health conditions, nationally representative data in low-and middle-income countries remain limited.Using data from the 2024 Uganda National Population and Housing Census, this study examined the prevalence and distribution of probable mental health conditions among persons aged 10 years and older in Uganda, while assessing variations by sex, place of residence, and sub-region. Methods:We conducted a descriptive secondary analysis of publicly available census tabulations ( 2024Volume I, Section 6.5).The analytic population comprised 31,389,721 individuals aged 10 years and older.Mental health outcomes were based on self-reported symptoms synthesised by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics into six indicators of probable mental health conditions such general psychological distress, depression, anxiety, bipolar, psychosis, and suicidality rather than clinical diagnoses Results: Among persons aged 10 years and older, 3,773,915 (12.0%) reported probable general psychological distress.Probable depressive condition affected 2,444,272 (7.8%), followed by probable bipolar condition 1,262,088 (4.0%) and probable anxiety condition 1,201,182 (3.8%).Higher prevalence was observed among females and rural residents.Substantial sub-regional variation was observed across all outcomes, with prevalence of general psychological distress ranging from approximately 8% in Madi, Sebei, and Ankole to over 16% in Teso. Conclusions:The 2024 census suggests a substantial and uneven distribution of probable mental health conditions in Uganda and under-scores the need for geographically targeted, equity-oriented mental health strategies, as well as stronger integration of mental health into primary healthcare systems.