4 June 2026
Breaking the Silence: Supporting the Mental Health of FGM/C Survivors
For many survivors of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), the physical wounds are only part of the story. The psychological impacts, trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and profound shame around body image and intimacy can be just as devastating and far less visible.
Yet these mental health needs remain deeply under-recognised.
A recent dialogue on FGM/C in the Horn of Africa, co-hosted by Belt of Somali Women, Somaliland Family Health Association, Silver Lining Kenya, and Orchid Project, brought this urgent issue to the fore.
Presentations by Dr. Suaad Abdulrehman, a psychiatrist working with Somali FGM/C survivors in the Netherlands and Benazir Mohamed, Founder and Executive Director of Silver Lining Kenya, explored both the barriers survivors face in accessing mental health support and the opportunities that exist to do better. You can read the full summary of the dialogue here
The Hidden Psychological Burden
One of the most striking insights from the dialogue was this: many survivors do not initially connect their emotional distress to their experience of FGM/C. They may seek care for physical symptoms: pain, complications, reproductive health concerns — while deeper psychological wounds go entirely unaddressed. Dr. Suaad described how she often first sees patients for medical symptoms, and only then can she open the door to mental health support.
The context matters too. In some Somali communities, FGM/C is tied to notions of cleanliness and belonging, meaning that girls who are not cut can also experience shame, social isolation, and trauma. The mental health consequences of FGM/C are not straightforward, and they cut in more than one direction.
FGM/C-related trauma is, at its core, a form of complex trauma, one that touches sexuality, self-image, confidence, and identity. Healing is not just about symptom relief. It requires a renegotiation of identity and relationships.
What Works and What Remains Challenging
Evidence points to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as the most effective clinical treatment for FGM/C-related trauma. Psycho-educational groups also offer something valuable: a space for health education, peer exchange, and a deeper understanding of one's own body and relational expectations.
But individual therapy alone is rarely enough. Because so many of the complications of FGM/C relate to sexual satisfaction and intimate relationships, mental distress often shows up most acutely between partners. Couples counselling has greater impact in these cases — though encouraging partners to engage remains a significant challenge. Religious and community leaders have a role to play here too, helping couples understand the connection between FGM/C and relationship difficulties, and supporting them before problems escalate.
In lower-resource settings, community-based approaches are not just helpful; they are essential. Benazir shared how Silver Lining Kenya uses trauma-informed art spaces, community dialogues, radio programmes and theatre to create environments where survivors feel safe enough to speak, to be heard, and to begin rebuilding a sense of self. These approaches acknowledge what clinical services sometimes overlook: that healing from FGM/C means rebuilding identity, not just managing symptoms.
A Shared Responsibility
No single profession or organisation can address this alone. Healthcare workers, community practitioners, teachers, religious leaders, and peers all have a role to play in making connections between symptoms and experiences, in offering referrals where possible, and in ensuring that survivors are met with compassion rather than stigma when they do speak.
Many survivors suffer in silence for years. Broader education across service providers, not just clinicians, is one of the most practical steps we can take to support earlier identification and care.
Strengthening awareness, expanding access to culturally sensitive support, and investing in community-led spaces are not optional extras. They are the foundation of a meaningful response.
FGM/C survivors deserve support that sees the full picture of their experience. Together, we can help make that possible.
This post was produced following a regional dialogue on FGM/C in the Horn of Africa, co-hosted by Belt of Somali Women, Somaliland Family Health Association, Silver Lining Kenya and Orchid Project.
Author : Mohamed, Benazir
