What question did this study set out to answer?

This review aims to identify and map the types, outcomes, and implementation challenges of mental health interventions in conflict-affected populations across Africa.

June 5, 2026Open Access

A scoping review of outcomes and implementation challenges of mental health care interventions among conflict-affected populations in Africa

Key Points

This review aims to identify and map the types, outcomes, and implementation challenges of mental health interventions in conflict-affected populations across Africa.
Conducted a scoping review following Arksey and O'Malley's framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
Performed a comprehensive search of multiple databases and grey literature for studies from 2000 to 2025.
Included publications that examined mental health interventions for conflict-affected populations in Africa.
43 studies met inclusion criteria, primarily from Uganda (14), DRC (7), Nigeria (6), and Sierra Leone (5).
Interventions included counseling, CBT, psychosocial support, and community-based care, leading to improvements in symptoms and daily functioning.
Identified challenges included human resource shortages, funding constraints, and cultural barriers affecting implementation.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Conflict across Africa has led to widespread displacement, trauma, and mental health disorders, with limited access to care in already resource-constrained health systems. This scoping review is aimed at mapping existing evidence on mental health interventions for conflict-affected populations in Africa, examining their types, outcomes, and implementation challenges, to inform future policy, practice, and research. METHODS: Following Arksey and O'Malley's framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a comprehensive search of PubMed, Google Scholar, WHO Global Health Library, and grey literature from UN agencies and NGOs was conducted. Publications from 2000 to 2025 in English were included if they examined mental health interventions among conflict-affected African populations. Data were extracted to identify intervention types, their outcomes, and implementation challenges. RESULTS: From 1368 records screened, 43 studies met our inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted in Uganda (n = 14), the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (n = 7), Nigeria (n = 6), and Sierra Leone (n = 5), and they targeted war-affected populations (n = 19), refugees (n = 17), and internally displaced persons (n = 12). Mental health interventions included counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychosocial support, group therapy, community-based care, psychoeducation, and narrative exposure therapy. Reported outcomes demonstrated reductions in symptoms; improved daily functioning, psychological well-being, and community uptake; strengthened social support; better coping in participants; and gender-specific outcomes. Implementation challenges to those mental health interventions included human resource shortages, logistical barriers, funding constraints, insecurity, stigma, and cultural and social barriers, as well as governance and coordination gaps. CONCLUSION: While diverse and contextually adapted mental health interventions in African conflict-affected settings have shown substantial benefits, optimum effectiveness can only be attained after issues like human resource capacity, funding, and coordination mechanisms are addressed. Improving workforce capacity, sustainable financing, coordination, and integration of culturally appropriate community-based care is critical to enhancing the reach and sustainability of mental health services in conflict-affected settings.

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