Understanding Community Perspectives on Mental Health in Liberia

ACF commissioned, with the financial support of AFD, a qualitative mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) study in Liberia at the community level to better understand the community members’ perspectives on mental health and psychosocial support, health seeking behaviours for treatment of mental health conditions, and the current availability of mental health services at the community level.

Better Health Outcomes for Liberians (BEHOL) is a three-year health systems strengthening project funded by Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and implemented by Action Against Hunger (ACF) and Expertise France in partnership with the Government of Liberia’s Ministry of Health.

The aims of the project are as follows:

• To strengthen Liberia’s health system through leadership development within the Ministry of Health at the national and sub-national levels;
• To improve the quality of health service delivery in 25 targeted health facilities;
• To increase individual health literacy and health seeking behaviors; and,
• To improve community participation and ownership of health services.

The specific objectives of the qualitative study are as follows:

• To describe signs and symptoms of mental health disorders and psychological distress in Liberia;
• To explore cultural representations and community perceptions of mental health disorders and psychological distress in targeted counties;
• To identify and understand mental health care seeking behaviours, including use of formal, informal, and traditional care;
• To identify and describe individual and/or collective coping mechanisms to address mental health disorders and psychological distress;
• To map community resources and analyse existing community mobilization around mental health rights (i.e., peer support groups, fight against stigma and discrimination).