As many as 1 in 5 Liberians suffer a mild to moderate mental disorder, according to WHO estimates, yet the country has only one registered psychiatrist and, until recently, the vast majority of health workers had a limited understanding of mental illness.

This is changing however, as WHO and partners are helping to equip health workers across the country with the skills to provide front-line care for people with mental illness.

Roland M Dolo, a registered nurse from Lofa County in the north of Liberia, is one of 380 health workers who have received intensive training from WHO in the management and treatment of mental disorders such as psychosis, depression and epilepsy.

Now, when someone comes to his clinic with symptoms of mental distress, he knows how to differentiate between different mental disorders. More importantly, he no longer stigmatizes these people. “I now know that these people can be treated, get well and play meaningful roles in their families, communities, and society at large,” he says.

The week-long training that Dolo received also covers post-traumatic stress disorder, grief and psychological first aid. The need for treatment for all of these conditions is heightened during emergencies such as the recent Ebola outbreak.