Geopsychiatry in the Horn of Africa: Ethiopia’s Geopolitical Landscape of Conflict, Economic Strain, and Collective Trauma

The current geopolitical landscape of Ethiopia is characterized by internal conflict, ethnic tensions, prolonged droughts, rebel insurgencies, and regional instability, all of which contribute to mental health vulnerabilities among at-risk populations that contribute to a culture of multigenerational trauma. The geopsychiatric emergency in the Horn of Africa emerges as high-burden cases, demonstrating distinct yet interconnected contexts where conflict, strain, and collective trauma converge to intensify distress. Therefore, there is a need to consider the advancement of geopsychiatry in Ethiopia, as it has become a critical policy issue given the current circumstances. This study aims to examine geopsychiatry in the context of Ethiopia's internal conflict, economic challenges, and collective trauma.