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Mental Distress is a disturbing or miserable mental or emotional condition. It was estimated that a least 500 million people in the world suffer from mental distress, and that only a small proportion receive appropriate care. Physical, psychological, familial, social and other environmental factors are contributing either to the occurrence or perpetuation of mental distress. In Ethiopia, malnutrition, separation and death of family members due to war and conflict have been common, and these factors are predominately affecting the mental status of people in general, and most at risk people, orphans and vulnerable children, in particular.

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Ephraim Tsegay, Tearfund HIV coordinator for Ethiopia, holds B.A. degree in Psychology and an M.A degree in Counselling from Addis Ababa University. He earned post graduate certificate and Diploma on Transformation and Learning from the University of Manchester and is studying his Masters degree with the Staffordshire University.

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