As Africa continues to grapple with a rising mental health burden and a severe shortage of mental healthcare professionals, St. George’s University School of Medicine is positioning itself at the forefront of efforts aimed at nurturing the next generation of psychiatrists and compassionate healthcare providers.
Speaking during this year’s Mental Health Awareness Month, the institution highlighted the urgent need for more trained mental health specialists across the African continent, where millions continue to face psychological challenges with limited access to professional support and treatment.
According to the World Health Organization, nearly 150 million people in Africa were living with mental health conditions in 2025, a situation that continues to strain healthcare systems already battling shortages in personnel and infrastructure.
A 2025 UNICEF regional analysis further revealed that Africa has approximately 1.4 mental health workers per 100,000 people, significantly below the global average of around nine workers per 100,000 people. Experts warn that the shortage continues to delay diagnosis, treatment and long-term care for vulnerable patients.
Against this backdrop, St. George’s University School of Medicine says medical education must play a central role in addressing the growing crisis by preparing doctors with strong psychiatric training, empathy and patient-centered care skills.
The university, located in Grenada, noted that psychiatry education should focus not only on treating illness but also on understanding the lived experiences of patients struggling with mental health conditions.
“Psychiatry reminds us that medicine is not only about treating disease, but about understanding people,” said Dr. Elizabeth Ryznar, Associate Chair of Psychiatry (US) and Professor of Medicine at St. George’s University School of Medicine.
“The most important humanistic lesson I impart to my students is that we are all humans, all worthy of the same dignity. Unfortunately, we still encounter stigma against psychiatric patients within the healthcare system and our broader society, and we need to remember that every person is doing the best they can,” she added.
Dr. Ryznar emphasized that communication and empathy developed through psychiatric training are essential in every field of medicine and can significantly improve patient care outcomes.
As part of its commitment to advancing mental healthcare education, St. George’s University School of Medicine outlined several areas of specialization available to students pursuing psychiatry. These include psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, interventional psychiatry, emergency mental healthcare and specialized care for different patient populations.
The institution also underscored the importance of supporting students’ own mental well-being through structured schedules, mentorship opportunities, peer support networks and stress management practices.
Healthcare stakeholders have increasingly called for more African students to pursue careers in psychiatry and mental healthcare as the continent works to bridge the widening treatment gap and combat stigma surrounding mental illness.
Through its Doctor of Medicine programs, St. George’s University School of Medicine says it remains committed to producing globally competitive medical professionals equipped with both clinical expertise and compassion to address evolving mental health challenges.
As conversations around mental health continue gaining momentum worldwide, the university believes investing in future psychiatrists and patient-centered healthcare training will be critical in transforming mental health services across Africa and beyond.