Shedding light on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Africa
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some people after experiencing a scary, dangerous, or shocking event such as a death, car accident, or sexual assault.
According to the U.S. National Institute of Health, everyone will experience different reactions during trauma, yet most people recover from those symptoms. PTSD may be identified in those who continue to have issues such as fear or stress even when they are not in danger.
Symptoms involve chronic and severe anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, aggressive behavior, and reduced social life. Individuals with PTSD are at more risk of suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and death by suicide.
People in Africa associate mental illness with an evil spirit. However, in some African countries like Ethiopia and Nigeria, factors like displacement, draught, and conflict, have increased PTSD among African patients.
The World Health Organization (WHO), has, therefore, launched a Suicide Prevention campaign in Africa on World Mental Health Day.