About grief
Grief after a loss is a natural process with no fixed timeline. Support can help when pain does not ease over time, when the loss was sudden or traumatic, or when it becomes very hard to carry on with daily life.
Psychotherapists are professionals trained in one or more models of psychotherapy (psychodynamic, systemic, humanistic, cognitive-behavioural…). The protected title and requirements vary by country; profiles show each professional’s training and registration.
Getting mental health care in Burkina Faso
Public health system · Public health system - psychiatry services at CHU Yalgado Ouédraogo (Ouagadougou) and CHU Souro Sanou (Bobo-Dioulasso)
Specialist psychiatric care is concentrated in the university hospitals of Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso; about 42 public facilities, mostly district medical centres staffed by psychiatric nurses, offer some mental health care. The public sector has only around nine to eleven psychiatrists and a handful of psychologists. Care is not free: the official public tariff for a consultation with a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist is 2,000 FCFA, and patients also pay for medicines and hospital stays.
How to check that a professional is licensed
- Ordre National des Médecins du Burkina Faso. Under Law No. 028-2012/AN the Order groups all doctors authorised to practise in Burkina Faso, and health facilities require registration on its roll. Ask for the doctor's registration number.
Insurance and coverage
Universal health insurance (RAMU) began operating in 2023 but covers only a small share of the population; outpatient and inpatient mental health care is generally paid by the patient or family.
Urgent help in Burkina Faso
If your life or someone else's is in danger, call the emergency number now. These services can help at any time:
- 17 · Police secours
Information reviewed in November 2026 · Sources: fluechtlingshilfe.ch, apps.who.int, ordremedecinsburkina.bf, extranet.who.int
Signs to look out for
Grief can bring sadness, longing, anger, guilt, disbelief, tiredness and even physical aches, and it often comes in waves. There is no right timeline. It may help to seek support when the pain stays just as intense for a long time, you cannot carry out daily tasks, you feel life has lost all meaning, you avoid everything linked to the loss, or you feel stuck in guilt or anger.
What helps: treatments and professionals
Most people do not need therapy to grieve, but support can help when grief is especially difficult. Grief-focused therapies, including cognitive-behavioural approaches adapted to prolonged grief, and meaning-centred or narrative approaches, have growing evidence. Psychologists and psychotherapists with experience in bereavement are the usual professionals. Support groups and family therapy can also help, especially after the loss of a child or a sudden death.
When to seek urgent help
If the pain of loss leads to thoughts of ending your life, wanting to join the person who died, or harming yourself, contact your local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department straight away. Seek prompt help too if you stop eating or drinking, or if alcohol or other substances have become your main way of coping.
What you can do in the meantime
Allow yourself to feel what comes, without forcing it or rushing it. Keep basic routines like sleep and meals, and accept practical help from others. Talking about the person who died, sharing memories or creating small rituals can help. Be aware that anniversaries and special dates may be harder. Reliable information about grief can reassure you that what you feel is common.
What does a psychotherapist do?
A psychotherapist helps people understand and change emotional, relational and behavioural patterns through a structured therapeutic relationship. Their work is shaped by one or more models, such as cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic, systemic, humanistic or integrative therapy. They meet individuals, couples, families or groups, usually in regular sessions, and spend time outside sessions on notes, preparation and their own supervision.
When to see a psychotherapist
Psychotherapy suits people who want to work in depth on recurring difficulties: anxiety, low mood, relationship patterns, self-esteem, the effects of past experiences or major life transitions. It can also help when you feel stuck without a clear diagnosis. If you need a formal diagnosis, a specific psychological assessment or medication, a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist may need to be involved.
How to choose
When choosing, check the licence and training, the approach they use and whether they have experience with what you need. Consider practical aspects too: language, price, location or online sessions and availability. The relationship with the professional matters a great deal; if after a few sessions it does not feel right, it is fine to change.
Frequently asked questions
Does the public health system in Burkina Faso cover psychological care?
Specialist psychiatric care is concentrated in the university hospitals of Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso; about 42 public facilities, mostly district medical centres staffed by psychiatric nurses, offer some mental health care. The public sector has only around nine to eleven psychiatrists and a handful of psychologists. Care is not free: the official public tariff for a consultation with a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist is 2,000 FCFA, and patients also pay for medicines and hospital stays.
How do I check that a psychotherapist is licensed in Burkina Faso?
Ordre National des Médecins du Burkina Faso: Under Law No. 028-2012/AN the Order groups all doctors authorised to practise in Burkina Faso, and health facilities require registration on its roll. Ask for the doctor's registration number.