This year’s World Mental Health Day, themed “Mental health in humanitarian emergencies,” highlights the pressing realities faced by people in South Sudan. For many, life is shaped by conflict, displacement, floods, disease outbreaks, and daily survival challenges, all of which take a profound toll on mental well-being. Humanitarian workers, often living under the same conditions, also face high levels of stress and trauma. Post-conflict and protracted crisis settings are particularly associated with elevated rates of mental health conditions, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Globally, an estimated one in five people living in conflict-affected areas experiences a mental health condition, a statistic that holds true in South Sudan according to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates. These figures reflect real human experiences of fear, anxiety, grief, and trauma, emphasizing that mental health is not a secondary concern to be addressed only after basic needs are met. Unaddressed mental health issues can undermine recovery, weaken resilience, and leave long-term scars that physical aid alone cannot heal.
To address these challenges, WHO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and partners, is integrating mental health and psychosocial support into emergency response systems. Using tools such as the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Minimum Service Package, WHO ensures care is timely, inclusive, and effective, calling on other health actors to join in these efforts.
On this World Mental Health Day, the focus is on reaffirming that caring for mental well-being alongside physical health gives all individuals—especially vulnerable groups such as children, women, older people, people with disabilities, refugees, and those with pre-existing conditions—not just a chance to survive, but an opportunity to truly thrive.
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