Mental Health Clinics in Sudan

Sudan is one of the first countries in Africa and the Middle East to offer mental health services. Dr Al-Tigany Al-Mahy is one of the first psychiatrist in the region. He graduated in 1935 from Kitchener School of Medicine, which is currently known as the Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, and then received a higher diploma in psychiatry from England. However, as in many other sectors, the healthcare system in Sudan was and has been underdeveloped in the past 30 years due to the country’s economic instability. To date, the expenditure cost on government mental health clinics, hospitals and services in Sudan is unknown.

Furthermore, throughout history, mental health illnesses in Sudan have been associated with insanity. In addition, recognising or seeking help for mental health illnesses is taboo within Sudanese society. However, in recent years, there has been a positive shift towards mental health care, which is possibly due to the local and international awareness campaigns as well as openness and efforts by the Sudanese youth on social media to challenge the community to talk about their experiences publicly, and normalise talking about the topic and encourage others to do so and seek help.

Here are the top six psychiatric hospitals in Khartoum, which provide a variety of mental health services in Sudan:

Abdulaal Eledrissi Psychiatric Hospital 

It is a sanatorium for treating mentally ill patients. It was called Kobar Clinic due to it’s the famous location in Kobar in Khartoum North, near one of the oldest prisons in Sudan. The sanatorium is affiliated with the medical services department of the police, and the clinic department of Kobar Prison.

The clinic provides treatment and psychological counselling services for: cases who have criminal materials, have committed crimes, and suffer from psychological disorders; and people who pose a danger to themselves and society and did not commit crimes. This Hospital is for patients who cannot be treated by civilian clinics due to the seriousness of their health condition.

In addition, the clinic receives the mentally ill, who do not have parents or who are unknown, even if they do not pose a threat to themselves or society, but are homeless, living on public roads and streets.

Location: Khartoum North, Kobar

Ahfad Trauma Centre (ATC)

Part of the great educational edifice, Ahfad University for Women (AUW), Ahfad Trauma Centre (ATC) provides comprehensive trauma counselling, therapy, and training to individuals and communities. ATC helps individuals and families to recover from trauma and strengthen their resilience using free cultural sensitive therapeutic approaches.

Location: Omdurman, Alardah St 

Contact information: +249 154 888 908, email: atttc@gmail.com

Facebook: facebook.com/AhfadTraumaCenter/; Website: ahfadtrauma.wordpress.com/

Al Sharif Hospital

Al Sharif Hospital is a specialist psychiatric hospital.

Location: Burri Al Sharfi, Khartoum

Contact: +249 155 660 400, +249 183 781 415

Al-Tigany Al-Mahy Mental Health Hospital

Established in 1971, Al-Tigany Al-Mahy Mental Health Hospital is the first hospital specialised in diagnosis and treatment of mental health illnesses and neurological diseases in Sudan. It was named in honour of Dr Al Tigany Al Mahy, a pioneer in psychology in Sudan and Africa, who died in 1970.

The hospital is known as one of the largest psychiatric centres in the Sudanese capital and provides a diagnostic and treatment service for mental and neurological diseases. In cooperation with universities and colleges, the hospital also trains medical and nursing students, psychology students, and psychological assistants. In addition, the hospital offers regular academic programmes and activities.

Location: Omdurman, Al-Tigany Al-Mahy St

Hayat Center

Hayat Center for Treatment and Psychosocial Rehabilitation was launched in 2014 as the first specialised addiction treatment facility in Sudan and the first integrated centre in Sudan for treatment and rehabilitation of narcotics addicts. The hospital has several doctors who are addiction psychiatrists and consultants of psychiatry and addiction medicine.

Location: Jabra, Khartoum

Soba University Hospital

One of the oldest hospitals in Sudan, Soba University Hospital has Psychiatric Referral Clinic only.

Location: Madani St, Khartoum 2

Contact: +249 155 145 228

Taha Bashaar Psychiatric Hospital

Named after the late psychologist Dr Taha Bashaar, who is one of the first psychologists in Sudan and a student of Dr Al Mahy. The hospital has a capacity of 60 beds and includes specialist psychiatry as well as a training centre approved by the Medical Specialisations Council. The hospital provides different types of treatments such as:

Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Electroencephalography (EEG)
Electroconvulsivetherapy (ECT) and Laboratory (LAB)

Location: Al-Said Ali St, Khartoum Bahri

Other mental health clinics:

Ask Dinan and Rawan

Dinan and Rawan are both psychotherapist specialising in talk therapy. They offer individuals sessions either at the Clinic or online. Now due to Corona virus pandemic they’re working online.

Location: Almanshiya, Doha St, Khartoum

Contact: +249 920 061 232, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @Askdxr

Dr Amal Jabrullah

It’s a private clinic owned by Dr Amal Jabrullah specialist psychiatric. She offers a variety of services for mental health patients including consulting, and therapy.

Location: Khartoum, Said Abdulrahman St

Contact: +249 100 978 678

Dr Hala Taha Elmalik Clinic

Dr Hala Elmalik is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, who offers psychotherapy sessions as well as medication to treat mental illnesses.

Location: Al Maamoura, Ebeid Khatim

Contact: +249 960 211 218, facebook.com/Dr.HalaElmalik

Khartoum Clinic

It’s a private clinic for mental health care. It consists of doctors with different experience level, as well as psychotherapists. They offer counselling, various type of therapy. The clinic contains consultants and specialists in addition to psychological counsellors.

Location: Babiker Badry St, Al Souq Al Arabi

Contact: +249 155 290 862

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Born and raised in Omdurman, Thuraya Salih is a senior student at Sudan University of Science and Technology (SUST) and an amateur writer who is passionate about all forms of art.