About bullying
Bullying at school or online can cause anxiety, isolation, low mood and school refusal. Psychological support helps the child or teenager and the family, and professionals can coordinate with the school. If there is immediate risk, involve the school and, if needed, the authorities.
Psychologists assess and treat emotional, behavioural and relationship difficulties through psychological therapy. They do not prescribe medication. In many countries clinical practice requires a specific qualification and registration with a licensing body, which Therapy247 checks.
Getting mental health care in Samoa
Public health system · Ministry of Health / National Health Services, Mental Health Unit at Tupua Tamasese Meaole (TTM) Hospital
Public mental health care is centred on the Mental Health Unit at TTM Hospital in Apia, which admits people with acute mental health conditions and runs community outreach with partners such as Goshen Trust, whose halfway house helps patients return to the community. Specialist capacity is very limited: in October 2024 Samoa had a single full-time practising psychiatrist, with a second, overseas psychiatrist due to join the Ministry of Health.
How to check that a professional is licensed
- Medical Council, through the Registrar of Healthcare Professionals (Ministry of Health). Under the Healthcare Professions Registration and Standards Act 2007 the Registrar keeps registers of healthcare professionals, including medical practitioners, and the professional councils set standards and handle complaints. Psychiatrists practise as registered medical practitioners; no specific statutory register for psychologists was found.
Urgent help in Samoa
If your life or someone else's is in danger, call the emergency number now. These services can help at any time:
- 911 · Emergency (911)
Information reviewed in November 2026 · Sources: samoaobserver.ws, samoa.tradeportal.org
Signs to look out for
Bullying is repeated, intentional harm by others, whether physical, verbal, social exclusion or online. Signs in a child or teenager may include not wanting to go to school, unexplained injuries or damaged belongings, changes in mood or sleep, headaches or stomach aches, dropping grades, losing friends, or becoming anxious after using their phone. Many young people do not tell adults straight away.
What helps: treatments and professionals
Effective responses combine action at school, with whole-school anti-bullying programmes and clear protocols, and emotional support for the young person. Psychologists, child and adolescent psychologists and educational psychologists can help with anxiety, low mood, self-esteem and social skills, often using cognitive-behavioural approaches. Family guidance helps parents respond calmly. Support may also be offered to those who bully.
When to seek urgent help
Contact your local emergency services if a child or teenager has been seriously assaulted, is being threatened with violence, or expresses thoughts of suicide or self-harm, which should always be taken seriously. Seek urgent help too when there is sexual harassment, extortion or sharing of intimate images online, and keep evidence such as screenshots.
What you can do in the meantime
Listen calmly, believe the young person and tell them it is not their fault. Avoid confronting the other child or family directly; instead, document what happened and contact the school to agree on a plan. Help them stay connected to friends and activities outside school. Review privacy settings together for online bullying, and keep checking in regularly.
What does a psychologist do?
A psychologist spends most of the working day talking with people about what worries them and helping them change it. That includes assessing the difficulty, agreeing goals, and using structured psychological techniques in sessions with adults, teenagers, children, couples or families. Between sessions they prepare materials, write notes, and sometimes coordinate with doctors, schools or other professionals, always with your consent.
When to see a psychologist
It makes sense to see a psychologist when anxiety, low mood, stress, relationship problems, a loss or a difficult change start to affect your sleep, work or relationships, or when you simply want to understand yourself better. If symptoms are very severe, you may need medication, or there are signs of a medical cause, a psychiatrist or your doctor should be involved too.
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 Samoa cover psychological care?
Public mental health care is centred on the Mental Health Unit at TTM Hospital in Apia, which admits people with acute mental health conditions and runs community outreach with partners such as Goshen Trust, whose halfway house helps patients return to the community. Specialist capacity is very limited: in October 2024 Samoa had a single full-time practising psychiatrist, with a second, overseas psychiatrist due to join the Ministry of Health.
How do I check that a psychologist is licensed in Samoa?
Medical Council, through the Registrar of Healthcare Professionals (Ministry of Health): Under the Healthcare Professions Registration and Standards Act 2007 the Registrar keeps registers of healthcare professionals, including medical practitioners, and the professional councils set standards and handle complaints. Psychiatrists practise as registered medical practitioners; no specific statutory register for psychologists was found.