Story, Louvier Kindo Tombe
Yaoundé, September 4, 2025 — In a groundbreaking move, the civil society organization Youth for Health and Development of Africa (YOHEDA) has launched the Observatory on Mental Health During Electoral Periods, the first initiative of its kind in Cameroon and Africa.
The Observatory, officially unveiled at YOHEDA’s headquarters in Yaoundé, will monitor mental health risks linked to elections while raising awareness on coping mechanisms.
According to YOHEDA’s President, Dr. Hemes Nkwa, the project is in its pilot phase, covering five regions of the country as the association seeks funding to expand nationwide.
From August to November 2025, a team of professionals will carry out both digital and community campaigns. The initiative’s expected outcomes are ambitious: reaching 1 million people, engaging directly with 500,000, maintaining online follow-up with 300 individuals, and physically supporting those in need. In addition, 100,000 community leaders will be educated to extend the impact at grassroots level.
During her presentation, YOHEDA’s focal point on mental health, Mme Micareme Durance Titcho Epse Nzeko’oh, highlighted the scale of the challenge. “Mental health issues triple during electoral periods,” she noted, citing uncertainty, hate speech, and anxiety as key triggers.
Beyond public education, the Observatory will also respond to urgent cases. Plans are underway to create a specialized referral center and launch a toll-free hotline for citizens requiring immediate psychological support.
Dr. Nkwa stressed that the Observatory is strictly a civil society initiative: “Our role is to support citizens during elections without interfering in the electoral process. This effort is both timely and necessary.”
Looking ahead, YOHEDA intends to institutionalize the Observatory for future elections in Cameroon and across Africa, underscoring that mental resilience is just as vital as civic participation during political transitions.
