Transforming Mental Health Care for Survivors in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Addressing a Mental Health Crisis in Conflict Zones

Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is a major public health and human rights issue in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
High prevalence of depression (40%+), PTSD (50%+), and suicide attempts (16%) among survivors.
A severe shortage of mental health professionals—only one public health psychiatrist for over 6 million people in South Kivu.
Our initiative leverages Project ECHO, solidarity workshops, and telemedicine to build sustainable mental health care solutions.

A holistic approach to mental health care through three core pillars:

- Interactive case-based learning
- Focus on screening and managing mental health conditions
- Expanding workforce capacity in low-resource settings
- Empowering survivors of SGBV through structured mental health support
- Training community health workers and leaders
- Measuring impact through research and implementation science
- Open-source EHR integrated with WhatsApp for patient access
- Telepsychiatry platform connecting patients to specialists
- Real-world evaluation of feasibility and impact

Real-World Results in South Kivu

16+ Project ECHO training sessions conducted in English and French
14 active participants improving their skills in mental health care
400+ patients engaged in mental health studies
Strong partnerships with local and global organizations, including OpenEMR, Vivo International, and Fondation Remi Levina (FORAL)