Ebola fuels mental health crisis in eastern DR Congo
The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is causing a severe mental health crisis among children. Humanitarian organizations are calling for increased international support to provide psychosocial care for thousands of children affected by trauma and displacement.
Why it matters
The report underscores the long-term psychological impact of health epidemics on vulnerable populations in conflict-prone regions.
Children have been disproportionately affected by the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, international humanitarian organizations warned, calling for more international support for the protection and improved mental health services for children in affected areas.
Some 476 children have been confirmed with Ebola infection, with at least 189 children having died in the Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo, leaving thousands more grappling with trauma, grief and fear, according to Save the Children.
More than 4,000 children in Ituri Province, the epicenter of the outbreak, are receiving mental health and psychosocial support through child-friendly spaces established by the organization to help them cope with the emotional toll of losing loved ones, displacement and the constant threat of infection.
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