14/08/2026
Jigjiga University Researchers Contribute to Groundbreaking Study on Khat Use and Mental Health in Ethiopia's Somali Region
Researchers from Jigjiga University have contributed to a landmark study that reveals a strong association between problematic khat use and mental health conditions in Ethiopia's Somali Regional State. The study, recently published in BMJ Mental Health, provides the first population-based evidence on the relationship between problematic khat use and mental health challenges in the region. The findings were highlighted in a recent report by King's College London. The research is based on a household survey involving 844 participants from Jigjiga and Kabridahar.
The study found that 18.6% of participants experienced major depression, 11.1% met the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and 5.7% reported suicidal thoughts. Overall, 21.8% of participants were found to have at least one significant mental health condition. Researchers also discovered that individuals with problematic khat use were more than twice as likely to experience depression, PTSD, suicidal ideation, and other mental health disorders compared with those who did not have problematic khat use.
The findings provide important evidence to support the development of mental health services, substance-use interventions, and evidence-based public policies in the Somali Region. The study also emphasizes the urgent need for targeted mental health services and further research to better understand the complex relationship between khat use and mental health.
This collaborative research was led by a team of national and international researchers from Jigjiga University (JJU), the University of Kabridahar (UoK), King's College London (KCL), the University of Edinburgh, Addis Ababa University (AAU), Dalarna University, and the Somali Regional Health Bureau (SRHB).
Read more here: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/research-finds-link-between-problematic-khat-use-and-mental-health-conditions-in-the-somali-region-of-ethiopia