The Carter Centre has partnered with the UBS Optimus Foundation to improve the well-being of vulnerable youth in Liberia by tailoring and strengthening the national mental health care system to address the unique needs of children and adolescents.
The two-year collaboration aims to train 130 health and education professionals with skills to identify and treat the mental health needs of youth. In addition, three school-based clinics will be established and equipped with trained staff.
As a result of this initiative, an estimated 1,750 vulnerable children and adolescents in Liberia will have access to mental health and psychosocial support services to improve well-being.
Prior to the 2014-2015 Ebola virus disease outbreak, Liberia’s population faced a 14-year civil conflict. Although the conflict ended in 2003, a climate of violence has persisted. Following the Ebola outbreak, more than 3,600 Liberian children were orphaned and thousands more were confined in isolation units or left at home to watch loved ones suffer. The disease outbreak and social unrest have contributed to a mental health crisis in Liberia.
Source: Pana
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