A Qualitative Study of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for Ugandan Health Workers: Lessons from the 2022 Ebola Outbreak

This qualitative study addresses a critical gap by investigating the mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) needs of frontline health workers in Uganda following infectious disease outbreaks. It explores the lived experiences of Ugandan clinical and non-clinical staff during the 2022 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak, a period of intense psychosocial strain. Employing an interpretative phenomenological approach, we conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 24 participants from affected districts in early 2024. Thematic analysis revealed profound psychological distress, encompassing fear of contagion, community stigma, and moral injury exacerbated by severe resource constraints. Key findings demonstrate that while informal peer support was a crucial coping mechanism, formal MHPSS programmes were frequently inaccessible, under-resourced, or culturally misaligned. Participants consistently emphasised the necessity of embedding sustainable, context-specific support within the national health system, led by local practitioners, rather than relying on transient external interventions. This study contends that the 2022 outbreak underscores an urgent imperative for African health systems to institutionalise MHPSS as a core component of epidemic preparedness and response. These insights are vital for policymakers, advocating for the co-design of support frameworks that prioritise the long-term wellbeing of the health workforce to strengthen overall health system resilience for future public health emergencies.