• Samuel J Pullen, Augusta R Herman, Brittany Cl Lange, Nicole Christian-Brathwaite, Melissa Ulloa, Michael P Kempeh, Dyujay G Karnga, Mosoka P Fallah, Jeremiah Menyongai, Benjamin Harris, Yadira Alonso, David C Henderson, and Christina Pc Borba.
• Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Child and Family Mental Health and Community Psychiatry, Durham, NC.
• Afr Health Sci. 2021 Sep 1; 21 (3): 1396-1409.

BackgroundA better understanding of attitudes and beliefs held by traditional healers and utilizers of traditional medicine concerning mental health conditions in Liberia is important as Liberia seeks to improve its delivery of mental healthcare in the context of scarce resources and recovery from civil war.MethodsA qualitative research design was used to collect data from 24 Liberian traditional healers, and 11 utilizers of Liberian traditional medicine. Participants were queried about mental health problems in Liberia, treatments, and attitudes towards modern healthcare. Qualitative data were probed and aggregated using content analysis.ResultsMental health problems described by study participants included: Open Mole, African Science, Epilepsy, Depression and Mental Illness (trauma/substance use). Mental health problems were often associated with socioeconomic distress, and participants described their attitudes and beliefs concerning mental healthcare, traditional medicine, and modern healthcare.ConclusionTraditional medicine is an important part of mental healthcare in Africa. Mental illness, social factors, and healthcare access were important problems in Liberia. Mental health problems blended local cultural beliefs with Westernized nosology and social factors. Traditional healer's attitudes towards Western medicine reflected ambivalence. There is a desire for collaboration with 'modern' health care providers, but this will require reciprocal trust-building.© 2021 Pullen SJ et al.

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