Mental health in Cameroon

There is a lack of information concerning common diagnoses of mental illness in Cameroon, although high rates of depression are often linked with raised levels of HIV/AIDS in the country. Economic instability and psychoactive substance misuse are often cited as other risk factors for mental health problems in the country. Neuropsychiatric disorders contributed an estimated 6.1% of the global burden of disease in 2008.

There is no officially approved mental health plan or policy. However, mental health is specifically mentioned in general health policy and other legislation. Mental health expenditure by the government accounts for 0.3% of the total health budget, and 0.4% of the mental health budget is used as psychiatric hospital expenditure (2011).