In Cote d’Ivoire beliefs often hold that mental illness is the result of a curse or possession by the devil. In everyday slang, people experiencing mental illness may be labelled “fatôh” meaning “mad”. People often rely on traditional healers or the Church for a cure. These forms of care are unregulated, and can be abusive. These beliefs, and the many challenges in managing mental illness, lead to deep stigmatisation of sufferers.

There are many barriers to accessing psychiatric care. There are only two psychiatric hospitals and approximately 30 psychiatrists for a population of around 20 million. The relatively high cost of treatment is mostly borne by patients. The project casts light on the difficult journey to treatment through NGOs, traditional healers and healthcare professionals.