A recent study has uncovered a mental health crisis among health science students in Mogadishu, with nearly six in ten showing signs of depression.
The findings, published in BMC Psychiatry, a peer-reviewed medical journal in February 2025, paint a troubling picture of Somalia’s future healthcare workforce.
The study, conducted between January and June 2024, surveyed 321 undergraduate students at SIMAD, Banadir, Mogadishu, and Jamhuriya universities – all based in Mogadishu. Participants were drawn from medical, nursing, public health and laboratory science programs.
Using the internationally recognized Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), researchers found that 58.6% of respondents showed symptoms of depression ranging from mild to severe. Only 41.5% fell within the normal range.
“These students are among the high-risk group for depression owing to intense academic pressures, demanding clinical responsibilities, and emotional strain from personal stressors,” the study found.
Female students and those studying nursing and public health were the most affected. The statistics show that 65% of female students had symptoms of depression, compared to 35% of male students.
Among the different courses, nursing and midwifery students were the hardest hit, with 68.6% affected. Public health students followed at 66.7%, while laboratory science and medical students recorded 52.3% and 52%, respectively.
Notably, unresolved emotional issues and frequent disputes with university authorities were found to be strong predictors of mental distress. The report noted that stigma remains a key barrier, with mental illness in Somalia often seen as spiritual weakness or possession—discouraging students from seeking help.
“Medical and health education in Somalia has faced significant challenges due to decades of conflict, instability, and limited resources,” the report notes. “Although the country has made strides in rebuilding its health sector, the curriculum often lacks standardization, and there are shortages of qualified faculty and modern training facilities.”
Given the worrying increase in depression rates, it is surprising that none of the four universities in the study offer any formal mental health services. Even worse, there are no campus counselors, no routine screenings, and no trained faculty to recognize signs of distress.
The study calls for urgent reforms, including the introduction of on-campus counseling, peer-support networks, and regular mental health screening.
Somalia’s public health infrastructure is already fragile, with only a handful of practicing psychiatrists serving a population of over 17 million. As the demand for qualified healthcare workers grows, the mental wellbeing of future professionals becomes a critical issue.
The study warns that failure to address the issue could lead to rising dropout rates, poor-quality care, and long-term psychological harm among professionals.“The issue can no longer be ignored,” the report states. “Healing must begin within the institutions meant to produce healers.”
Although the study was limited to universities in Mogadishu and relied on self-reported symptoms rather than clinical diagnoses, the researchers say it still offers one of the clearest pictures yet of a largely overlooked crisis.
With no national mental health policy in place and services largely absent at the university level, the researchers stress that Somalia’s health reforms must now include the psychological wellbeing of its students not just their academic performance.