A scoping review of outcomes and implementation challenges of mental health care interventions among conflict-affected populations in Africa.

introductionConflict across Africa has led to widespread displacement, trauma, and mental health disorders, with limited access to care in already resource-constrained health systems. This scoping review is aimed at mapping existing evidence on mental health interventions for conflict-affected populations in Africa, examining their types, outcomes, and implementation challenges, to inform future policy, practice, and research.

methodsFollowing Arksey and O'Malley's framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a comprehensive search of PubMed, Google Scholar, WHO Global Health Library, and grey literature from UN agencies and NGOs was conducted. Publications from 2000 to 2025 in English were included if they examined mental health interventions among conflict-affected African populations. Data were extracted to identify intervention types, their outcomes, and implementation challenges.

resultsFrom 1368 records screened, 43 studies met our inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted in Uganda (n = 14), the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (n = 7), Nigeria (n = 6), and Sierra Leone (n = 5), and they targeted war-affected populations (n = 19), refugees (n = 17), and internally displaced persons (n = 12). Mental health interventions included counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychosocial support, group therapy, community-based care, psychoeducation, and narrative exposure therapy. Reported outcomes demonstrated reductions in symptoms; improved daily functioning, psychological well-being, and community uptake; strengthened social support; better coping in participants; and gender-specific outcomes. Implementation challenges to those mental health interventions included human resource shortages, logistical barriers, funding constraints, insecurity, stigma, and cultural and social barriers, as well as governance and coordination gaps.

conclusionWhile diverse and contextually adapted mental health interventions in African conflict-affected settings have shown substantial benefits, optimum effectiveness can only be attained after issues like human resource capacity, funding, and coordination mechanisms are addressed. Improving workforce capacity, sustainable financing, coordination, and integration of culturally appropriate community-based care is critical to enhancing the reach and sustainability of mental health services in conflict-affected settings.