Ethiopia faces many social problems and one of them is the lack of attention to mental health.

According to
various studies it is estimated that, 15% of adults and 11% of children in Ethiopia have mental health issues.
While preventable viral diseases and malnutrition are very common in Ethiopia and are given proper treatment,
attention to mental health issues is lacking. Some of the difficulties include the scarcity of mental health
professionals outside of Addis Ababa, the capital, and the low quality of services offered for mental,
neurological, and substance use disorders. Additionally, those who have mental illnesses are frequently the
most marginalized, stigmatized, and subjected to prejudice.

Often, people with mental illnesses are at an increased risk of experiencing human rights violations, stigma and
discrimination. Even though mental health stigma and discrimination are universal, there appears to be a higher
burden in low- and middle-income countries. In low-income countries, like Ethiopia, mental disorders are not
considered as life threatening, and have not been given due attention by policy makers and service providers.
This widespread stigma and discrimination in Ethiopia has contributed to under-utilization of available mental
health services in the country.

According to a qualitative study conducted in Ethiopia by 26 mental health practitioners or educators,

participants perceived community stigma as soon as individuals with severe mental illness were seen outside
their homes, regardless of gender. In a population-based study among people with severe mental illness,63.3%
of 300 participants had experienced discrimination in the previous year, mainly by being avoided or shunned
because of mental illness. An institution-based study in an urban setting reported similar findings of perceived
stigma (62.6%) among 423 people with schizophrenia.