The Psychiatry Department of Addis Ababa University has released a new book in Amharic to address mental health challenges and stigma in Ethiopia. Edited by leading experts, it compiles reliable information amid rising mental health issues in the country. The Federal Ministry of Health supported the project by funding the printing of 10,000 copies for public distribution.
Mental health challenges are increasingly prevalent in Ethiopia, where misunderstandings and stereotypes often hinder people from seeking care. Studies indicate that common mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, affect 21-22% of the general population based on pre-2020 meta-analyses, with rates rising to 36-40% in post-COVID reviews or specific groups. Depression prevalence ranges from about 9% in older national surveys to 30-35% among students, hypertensive patients, or youth. Recent studies from 2020-2025 show 21% in Harari Region adults, 24.7% in Addis Ababa communities, and 40-60% in vulnerable populations like prisoners, substance users, or those with chronic illnesses. Experts attribute this upward trend to factors including conflicts, economic pressures like inflation and unemployment, displacement, food insecurity, migration, substance use, and COVID-19 aftermaths.
To counter these issues, the Psychiatry Department of Addis Ababa University has published a new book in Amharic on mental health challenges, their meanings, and causes. Edited by experts including Professor Samuel Wolde, a US-based clinical psychologist; Professor Atalay Alem, Emeritus at AAU's Psychiatry Department; Professor Mesfin Araya; and lead editor Professor Solomon Teferra, an addiction psychiatry specialist, the book involved over 20 mental health professionals contributing voluntarily. The project took nearly three years to complete.
"Professor Samuel Wolde—a clinical psychologist based in the US and one of the book’s editors—discussed the idea of producing a book in Amharic with Professor Atalay Alem, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry at Addis Ababa University (AAU) and also an editor of the book. Professor Atalay then brought the proposal to me and Professor Mesfin Araya. We enthusiastically embraced the idea, and I was tasked with developing author guidelines and identifying suitable contributors for the various chapters. Contributors were carefully selected based on their expertise in relevant areas," Professor Solomon Teferra told Geeska.
Challenges included convincing over 20 professionals to contribute without pay and translating psychiatric terms into Amharic, sometimes retaining English terms like schizophrenia for precision. The Federal Ministry of Health aided by funding 10,000 copies for public distribution.
Another contributor, Dr. Azeb Asaminew, an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at AAU, said her involvement stemmed from academics' duty to share knowledge. "I believe that knowledge should not be hoarded. And in sharing it, the knowledge will need to be transformed based on our local experiences and realities. The way we speak about mental health issues needs to be interwoven with our social contextual fabrics," she told Geeska.
Over the past two decades, Ethiopia has advanced mental health awareness and service use through the National Mental Health Strategy (2012/13-2015/16 and 2020-2025), integrating services into primary care, expanding the workforce with more psychiatrists and trained health workers, improving medication access, and reducing stigma via awareness campaigns. The Ethiopian Mental Health Service Users Association has been key in fighting stigma, voicing lived experiences, raising community awareness, and advocating for better rights and care.
"I firmly believe this book serves as an excellent foundation for raising public awareness about mental health in our society, where stigma, misinformation, and limited understanding have long been barriers to care," Professor Solomon stated. The book will aid practitioners in creating educational content, help patients understand their conditions, and enable media to report accurately, supporting Ethiopia's mental health awareness goals.
