Raising Awareness Together: Mpox and Mental Health in Uganda

With nearly 2,000 cases of Mpox in Uganda as of a few weeks ago, it’s increasingly important to address the mental health impacts of the outbreak on affected communities.

This is why StrongMinds partnered with World Vision and local Ugandan health authorities to embark on a community action campaign in the Mayuge District. The three-month initiative, which concluded at the end of January, addressed the growing concern around Mpox while integrating essential mental health awareness, emphasizing the psychological toll of infectious disease outbreaks and the importance of accessible mental health care.

Mpox outbreaks can leave more than physical scars; the stigma and fear surrounding the disease often trigger anxiety, depression, and isolation. The campaign’s primary objectives included:

• Raising awareness about Mpox prevention and mental health challenges related to the disease.
• Strengthening community resilience by equipping local health teams with mental health resources.
• Encouraging vulnerable populations to seek help, emphasizing that depression is treatable and that support is available.

World Vision donated essential health supplies to the district health department, including sanitizers, soap, masks, mattresses, and megaphones. Following this, educational materials about Mpox prevention and mental health resources were distributed throughout the district.

To maximize outreach, awareness activities were held in busy trading centers across Kigandalo, Mpungwe, and Busakira sub-counties, with particularly high engagement in Mayuge. During these sessions, we educated thousands of people on both the physical and mental health impacts Mpox can have. Individuals were also screened for depression, and those displaying symptoms were connected to StrongMinds volunteers for further mental health support. 

The collaborative efforts in Mayuge District demonstrate the importance of addressing mental health alongside physical health, especially during disease outbreaks. By working together, StrongMinds, World Vision, and local health authorities have laid a foundation for more resilient, informed communities.