As Ebola continues to devastate eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, healthcare workers have warned of a less visible crisis: the psychological toll on patients, survivors and families left behind.
At a mental health treatment centre in Bunia, a patient is receiving support after losing two close relatives and three members of her extended family to the disease. She says fear and stigma have left her feeling isolated.
the care givers say stigma affects patients, survivors and medical staff, sometimes deepening the trauma of those already struggling with loss.
The crisis is unfolding against a backdrop of armed conflict and displacement across eastern Congo.
Aid workers say psychological support is essential alongside medical treatment, as communities face grief, fear and the stigma surrounding Ebola.
