Mental illness and health in Sierra Leone affected by Ebola: lessons for health workers

Sierra Leone is currently going through the worst Ebola epidemic on record, creating anxiety and anxiety related, somatic symptoms. Additionally, increased psychiatric morbidity could be expected as a result of the adverse social and psychological consequences of the epidemic, exposing the country's weak, poorly resourced mental health services and highlighting the need for psychosocial interventions and development of psychiatric interventions. Countrywide, there are 20 psychiatric nurses and 150 community health workers trained in the mental health Gap Action Programme and Psychological First Aid. However, in order to strengthen their capacity to deliver psychosocial and psychiatric interventions and to create a potential resource for psychiatric interventions during a major humanitarian crisis, ongoing training and supervision will be essential.