Quick Facts – Patrice Wellness Initiative Uganda

General Mental Health Data – Uganda

Around 32% of Ugandans are estimated to experience mental health challenges at some point in their lives, reflecting a significant national burden.
The 2024 National Household Survey reports that approximately 5.5 million Ugandans (about 12% of the population) are likely facing probable mental health issues.
Systematic research shows about 24.2% of adults and 22.9% of children in Uganda suffer from mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.
In some urban slum environments in Kampala, depression affects around 57.7% of young women, with anxiety at 34.7% and suicidality at 46.0%, indicating extremely high localized prevalence.

Uganda has extremely limited mental health resources, with far fewer mental health professionals than needed and less than 1% of the health budget allocated to mental health services.
Psychiatric care services are mostly centralized at Butabika National Referral Hospital, leaving many rural and community needs unmet.

Mental health problems in Uganda have increased since the COVID‑19 pandemic, with prevalence rising from about 24% to 32% of the population in recent years, driven by economic hardship and social stressors.

One in four Ugandans are affected by a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety disorders.

Depression and anxiety are among the most common conditions, with depressive disorders reported at ~21–22% in adults and children.

Alcohol and drug-related mental health problems are rising rapidly, with hospital admissions and community reports showing increasing substance-associated disorders.

National data indicates that about 1% of Ugandans report suicide ideas, which translates to approximately 55,000 people at risk of suicide if unaddressed.