In Cameroon, more than a decade of armed conflict in the Anglophone Northwest and Southwest regions has created a silent epidemic of trauma among civilians. Health providers and local NGOs report rising cases of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), particularly among internally displaced people and young adults who have witnessed or fled violence. Mental health services are limited, with fewer than 500 mental health professionals serving a population of over 28 million — most concentrated in urban centers like Yaoundé and Douala, leaving rural and conflict-affected areas severely underserved. The toll is especially heavy on women and girls, many of whom have experienced kidnapping, rape, or forced displacement, increasing their vulnerability to long-term psychological distress. �
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