{"id":25782,"date":"2026-03-27T14:29:25","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T14:29:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/?p=25782"},"modified":"2026-03-27T14:29:29","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T14:29:29","slug":"ul-launches-first-psychology-department","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/ul-launches-first-psychology-department\/","title":{"rendered":"UL Launches First Psychology Department"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Move aims to address mental health workforce gap and rising drug crisis<\/em>

Fendall, March 27, 2026 – <\/strong>The University of Liberia has launched its first-ever Department of Psychology, a historic milestone aimed at combating the nation\u2019s severe shortage of mental health workers and training a new generation of professionals to address post-war challenges and a growing drug epidemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The new department, housed within the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities, marks a significant shift for Liberia. Decades after a prolonged civil conflict, the country continues to face major gaps in mental health care.

With a faculty of internationally trained Liberian psychologists\u2014led by Acting Chair Andrew Dean\u2014 UL aims to cultivate homegrown expertise to address these systemic challenges.

The program was officially inaugurated on March 25 at the Fendall campus. The ceremony brought together university administrators, government officials, international partners, faculty and students. It concluded with a ribbon cutting for the department\u2019s fully furnished offices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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UL President Dr. Layli Maparyan, an academic developmental psychologist, said establishing the department was one of her first actions as president.

\u201cThis is indeed an important day for all of us, for the University of Liberia and for Liberia as a nation,\u201d she said. \u201cOn a more personal level, today\u2019s dedication represents the fulfillment of a dream and aspiration for me, not only as UL president, but also as an academic developmental psychologist.\u201d

To start, the department will focus on three major pathways\u2014Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Educational Psychology\u2014allowing students to choose among them in their junior year.

Targeting a Growing Crisis<\/strong>

The department aims to tackle the nation\u2019s ongoing mental health crisis by strengthening Liberia\u2019s limited workforce and addressing the psychological effects of civil war, rising drug use and other mental health disorders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dr. Maparyan said recent data shows that two in ten young people are involved with drugs, warning that this could create a \u201clost generation\u201d if left unchecked. She noted that the new department will help train professionals to address the biological, behavioral, social and spiritual dimensions of addiction.

Chairman Dean said Liberia has faced a complex landscape of psychological challenges for decades, from lingering post-war trauma to increasing substance abuse and the often-overlooked burden of depression and anxiety.

\u201cWe see its impact everywhere,\u201d Dean said. \u201cIt is visible in our mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters.\u201d

However, he noted that for many Liberians, access to care has been limited. While acknowledging the contributions of existing professionals, he said their numbers remain insufficient to meet national needs.

According to Ministry of Health data, Liberia has only nine psychiatrists serving a population of over five million, along with fewer than five clinical psychologists.


History of Mental Health Care in Liberia
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In a keynote address, Liberia\u2019s first psychiatrist, Prof. Benjamin L. Harris, emphasized that effective care requires a holistic approach involving biological, psychological and social factors.

He noted that formal mental health services began in December 1961 with the establishment of the Catherine Hill Rehabilitation Hospital, founded by a group of women led by then First Lady Antoinette Tubman.

The facility was later destroyed during the civil conflict, leaving mental health services severely weakened. After the wars, services were largely decimated, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In 2009, Liberia introduced its first mental health policy, with training as a key component. Today, the country has 10 psychiatrists\u2014nine Liberians and one expatriate\u2014and more than 300 clinicians trained by the Carter Center are serving across the country.

Partnership and Support
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The Massachusetts Alliance for the Restoration of the University of Liberia (MARUL), headed by President Mrs. Baindu Barclay Browne, provided funding for the department\u2019s office space.

In partnership with the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, the United Methodist University is also training mental health physician assistants at the master\u2019s level, with clinical training at Grant Mental Hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Dr. Maparyan expressed appreciation for the efforts of the department\u2019s leadership and team throughout 2025, as well as MARUL\u2019s support.

Hon. Macdella M. Cooper, Political Advisor to the President of Liberia, said the new department represents opportunity, growth and the impact of strong partnerships.
\u201cWhen highlighting mental health, we must stop overlooking and underfunding it,\u201d she said.

She added that the new facility provides a platform for research and service, sending a clear message that the work of mental health professionals is vital to Liberia\u2019s development.
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Move aims to address mental health workforce gap and rising drug crisis Fendall, March 27, 2026 – The University of Liberia has launched its first-ever Department of Psychology, a historic milestone aimed at combating the nation\u2019s severe shortage of mental health workers and training a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"iawp_total_views":109,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"featured_image_src":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"parleyww","author_link":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/author\/4ad98a01a3a2fd36\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25782"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25782\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25790,"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25782\/revisions\/25790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}