Ethiopia Facing Severe Shortage of Psychiatrists Despite Growth, Says Association

The Ethiopian Psychiatric Association held its 13th annual conference under the theme of leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for accessible and quality mental healthcare. During the event, Association President Professor Atalay Alem highlighted that while Ethiopia's psychiatrist count grew from 9 to around 240 over the past two decades, the country still faces a severe shortage according to World Health Organization standards. Mental health services have expanded from Addis Ababa to all regions, but thousands of additional specialists are still urgently needed. To address accessibility, particularly in rural areas, the association is exploring the integration of mobile technology and AI, inviting Canadian experts to share insights on empathetic AI care. Professor Atalay noted that AI models must be adapted to fit local languages and cultural nuances through ongoing research. Additionally, the association is collaborating with the Ministry of Health to draft a five-year mental health strategy, while raising concerns about the negative impact of social media on youth mental health.