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Online Individual Therapy for Sao Tome and Principe

Grouport delivers individual therapy in Sao Tome and Principe through weekly one-on-one video sessions with a licensed clinician, priced at $103 per session or $448 per month on a predictable USD subscription. Every session runs on HIPAA-compliant video, in English, from anywhere on Sao Tome island or Principe with a stable internet connection. After a short intake, Sao Toméan residents and diaspora returnees are matched with a therapist right away and can book their first 45 minute session this week, without waiting on the roughly 11-week queue at the central hospital or piecing together a costly international teleconsultation. Online therapy Sao Tome and Principe residents can actually sustain, week after week.

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Mental Health in Sao Tome and Principe by the Numbers

Understanding the landscape of mental health care access and the challenges
residents face.

Mental Illness Prevalence

5.1 workers per 100,000 residents form the entire mental health workforce, one of the lowest densities in the Gulf of Guinea sub-region.

Wait Time

11 weeks average wait for specialist mental health appointments through the public system.

Median Household Income

Middle-low income economy where household budgets are stretched thin, making the $103 per session price point meaningful.

Percentage Who Need Therapy

75% urban of the roughly 228,000 residents live in urban areas, with most concentrated on Sao Tome island near the capital.

Provider Shortage

0 dedicated psychiatric hospitals nationwide, with specialist care concentrated at Ayres de Menezes Hospital in the capital.

Mental Health Providers per 100k Residents

0 mandatory national health insurance scheme exists, so most mental health financing flows from the government budget and donors including Portugal and Cuba.

The numbers behind Sao Tome and Principe's mental health landscape point directly at the case for one-on-one online care. A workforce of about 5 mental health professionals per 100,000 residents concentrated in a single hospital, an average 11-week wait to reach a specialist, and roughly 75 percent of the population living in urban areas around the capital together describe a system in which sustained weekly individual therapy is structurally hard to arrange locally. Grouport's model, a licensed clinician matched right away and delivering 45 minute HIPAA-compliant sessions in English at $103 per session or $448 per month, is built for exactly this kind of environment, where demand for continuous private care outstrips what a small hospital-based system can supply.

UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGE

Regional Context: Sao Tome and Principe and the AFR Region

The Problem

Sao Tome and Principe sits inside the WHO AFR region, where mental health workforce density is the lowest of any WHO region worldwide. The country's own ratio of 5.1 mental health workers per 100,000 people is roughly a twentieth of what is available in high-income Portuguese-speaking countries like Portugal, and it is spread across two islands separated by 150 kilometers of open ocean. Almost all specialist capacity sits at Ayres de Menezes Central Hospital in Sao Tome city, meaning a resident of Principe or of a rural district on Sao Tome island faces both an 11-week appointment wait and an inter-island or cross-island journey to reach a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.

The Impact

An eleven-week wait is not just a statistic on a Sao Toméan working adult's calendar. It is nearly a full quarter of the year spent managing panic attacks between shifts, watching a marriage strain, or coping with grief while running a small business, all before the first real appointment even lands. With roughly 5 mental health workers per 100,000 people, appointments once secured are often brief and infrequent, and a single missed slot can push care back another month. Grouport removes that friction entirely: intake is completed online, matching with a licensed clinician happens right away, and the first 45 minute one-on-one session is booked within the same week.

The Solution

One-on-one individual therapy dissolves the pressure points that make care hard to reach in Sao Tome and Principe. Instead of waiting weeks for a slot at Ayres de Menezes Hospital or traveling between islands for a follow-up, Grouport clients meet privately with the same licensed therapist each week, on their own schedule, from home. Sessions are tailored to the person in the room, not to a shared curriculum, so a Sao Toméan navigating burnout, grief, anxiety, or a life transition works on their own goals at their own pace. Continuity with a single clinician builds the trust that short, fragmented specialist visits inside a small public system rarely allow.

0 dedicated psychiatric hospitals nationwide, with specialist care concentrated at Ayres de Menezes Hospital in the capital.

Grouport loosens three specific frictions Sao Tome and Principe clients face today. First, the 11-week average wait for structured mental health care collapses into a same-week match, because Grouport draws from a broad pool of licensed clinicians rather than a single hospital's outpatient rota. Second, geography stops mattering: someone on Principe island no longer needs an inter-island trip or a hospital referral to reach a specialist, because sessions run over HIPAA-compliant video wherever a stable connection exists. Third, the English-language gap that shuts many Sao Toméans out of internationally routed private teleconsultations is bridged directly, with Grouport therapists delivering sessions in English for the tertiary-educated, tourism-sector, and diaspora-returnee populations who prefer that option.

Access and Availability of Mental Health Care in Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe's formal mental health care sits inside a small, capital-centered public system. Specialist psychiatric services are delivered from Ayres de Menezes Central Hospital in Sao Tome city, supplemented by district health centers across the two islands and periodic support from Portuguese, Cuban, WHO, and Global Fund partners. There is no dedicated psychiatric hospital, no mandatory national health insurance scheme, and no meaningful private employer-assistance market for talk therapy. Sustained weekly one-on-one work with a licensed clinician, the kind of continuity that helps anxiety, depression, or trauma actually shift, is the piece the local system cannot readily supply. Grouport fills exactly that gap with immediate-start, English-language, HIPAA-secured individual therapy on a monthly USD subscription, available anywhere on the islands.

Geographic Barriers

Geography compresses mental health access in Sao Tome and Principe into a very small footprint. Roughly three-quarters of the population lives in urban areas, with the overwhelming majority concentrated on Sao Tome island around the capital, while Principe island and outlying rural districts depend on referrals or inter-island travel for anything beyond primary care. A single specialist appointment can involve a flight or boat crossing, a night away from work, and coordination with a hospital-based schedule that rarely accommodates evening hours. National online reach removes those layers entirely, so a client in Santo António on Principe or a rural village on Sao Tome joins the same licensed therapist over video that a resident of the capital does, at the same weekly time.

Extended Wait Times

The average wait for structured mental health care in Sao Tome and Principe runs about 11 weeks, or roughly 77 days, from first request to first specialist appointment, a reflection of a workforce of about 5 mental health professionals per 100,000 residents concentrated in one hospital. Eleven weeks is enough time for an untreated depressive episode to cost a job, for postpartum anxiety to reshape a family, or for grief to harden into isolation. Grouport short-circuits that queue. Instead of waiting eleven weeks for a hospital slot, a Sao Toméan client completes intake online, is matched with a licensed therapist right away, and begins weekly 45 minute one-on-one sessions within days.

Systemic Challenges

Several structural realities keep mental health care thin in Sao Tome and Principe. The mental health workforce sits at roughly 5.1 professionals per 100,000 people, among the lowest densities in the Gulf of Guinea sub-region, and there is no dedicated psychiatric facility to concentrate training or specialist practice. Health financing leans heavily on the government budget and external donors from Portugal, Cuba, WHO, and the Global Fund; there is no mandatory national health insurance to smooth out-of-pocket costs. Stigma around seeking help, particularly among men and older residents, further narrows who reaches the central hospital. Grouport routes around every one of these constraints, delivering a licensed clinician directly over HIPAA-compliant video, priced in transparent USD, without dependence on local hospital capacity or donor cycles.

Urban-Rural Divide

Even inside a country of only about 228,000 people, access is uneven. Sao Tome city and its surrounding districts concentrate almost every specialist appointment, while residents of Principe island, Lembá, Caué, and the more agricultural interior districts face longer travel and thinner referral networks for anything beyond primary care. Someone in the capital may reach the central hospital in a short taxi ride; someone in Santo António on Principe may need a boat or a flight. Grouport levels that gap entirely. The same licensed therapist, the same 45 minute session, the same weekly cadence, all available wherever a stable internet connection reaches, from the Marginal in Sao Tome city to a village on Principe.

For Sao Toméan residents and diaspora returnees ready to start therapy, Grouport is a straightforward fit. Intake is completed online, matching with a licensed clinician happens right away, and the first weekly one-on-one video session is booked within days rather than months. Pricing is transparent in USD: $103 per session at $448 per month for weekly care, or at $224 per month for every-other-week care, so a full course of individual therapy is easy to plan for. Sessions run in English, on HIPAA-compliant video, from anywhere on Sao Tome or Principe. Grouport is a sustainable way to work around the local system's real access constraints, week after week.

Cost and Value of Online Individual Therapy in Sao Tome and Principe

Grouport offers Sao Toméan residents immediate access to individual therapy at $103 per session on average (billed at $448 per month), 50 to 60 percent below the global average of $150 to $250 per session for private one-on-one talk therapy. For clients who prefer a lighter cadence, every-other-week sessions run at $224 per month. Both tiers cover the same 45 minute video appointment with the same licensed therapist week after week. Because pricing is a flat monthly USD subscription rather than per-visit billing routed through international providers or a local out-of-pocket receipt at the central hospital, the total cost of a full course of care is predictable from day one.

Affordability and Income

Sao Tome and Principe is classified by the World Bank as lower-middle income, with GNI per capita on the order of $3,500 Atlas and roughly $4,900 in PPP terms, a context in which any recurring health spend needs to be predictable rather than sudden. Grouport's $448 monthly subscription for weekly individual therapy, or $224 monthly for every-other-week care, is billed as one flat USD charge, not a shifting per-visit invoice. That predictability matters when a Sao Toméan client is planning three, six, or twelve months of care around household income, remittance flows from family abroad, or the seasonal rhythms of tourism and cocoa work, and it is meaningfully below international teleconsultation fees typically routed through Portugal-based private providers.

Hidden Cost and Barriers

The costs of in-person mental health care in Sao Tome and Principe rarely stop at the appointment fee. A trip to Ayres de Menezes Hospital from an outlying district can eat an afternoon in taxi fares and waiting time; a follow-up from Principe island can require an inter-island crossing and an overnight stay. Per-visit billing at private clinics and international teleconsultations creates unpredictable monthly totals, often invoiced in euros with currency-conversion friction back to dobra. Finding a licensed clinician who works in English at all is its own search. Grouport folds all of that into one predictable USD subscription: one video link, one therapist, one flat monthly charge, cancel anytime, with no travel, no per-session receipts, and no language mismatch built into the booking.

Immediate Availability

The gap between deciding to talk to someone and actually having an appointment is where most mental health care in Sao Tome and Principe falls apart. Eleven weeks of waiting for a hospital slot is enough to derail a work project, a marriage, or a recovery. Grouport closes that gap. Intake takes minutes, matching with a licensed clinician happens right away, and the first 45 minute session is scheduled within days. For Sao Tome and Principe clients ready to start now, a licensed Grouport therapist is available this week.

How it Works

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Meet weekly with a licensed mental health professional for 45-minute video sessions. With consistent online therapy services, you can start seeing meaningful results.

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Mental Health Conditions We Treat in

Sao Tome and Principe

Beyond individual therapy, Grouport offers licensed therapists who specialize across the full spectrum of mental health needs and evidence-based approaches. Whatever you're looking for, we have a therapist for your needs.

Meaningful Results

Check out how our online therapy services have helped our members see life-changing results

Stephanie

“Grouport is time flexible and affordable and if it didn’t exist, I don’t know where I would go. I had looked into other places before Grouport and there really wasn’t any option like it.”

Michael

“I highly recommend this to anyone who is struggling with anxiety or depression. The therapists are top notch and have made me feel really comfortable and my anxiety has improved tremendously in only a few sessions!”

Isabel

"I joined Grouport to work on myself and to heal. I’m learning so much at every session! The change I see not only in myself but in my fellow group members is abundantly encouraging and profoundly fulfilling. Group therapy with Grouport is a powerful healing tool."

Sheldon

“I was feeling very down at the end of 2020 and I was ready to do something drastic that I know I'd likely regret. The group definitely helped show me that there are people who feel the same way as I do.”

Nancy

“The therapy from Grouport is high quality and convenient. I am becoming much more self aware and am liking myself more. My relationships at work are better and I’m much happier.”

Emily

“I like the connection you can make with total strangers and the confidentiality it comes with.”

Olivia

“My weekly group helps me get through the week. Best experience ever!”

Danielle

"Grouport can help you with your issues. Their therapists are well trained to work with you on your issues. I felt my anxiety greatly improve after only a few sessions. I highly recommend it!"

Glenn

"Grouport's approach to DBT is a real strength. This approach provides tools and methods for working with difficult emotions and getting a handle on them. It has given me hope where other approaches have failed."

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Meet Our Therapists

Our therapists represent a wide range of clinical specialties & diverse backgrounds. They all undergo the most stringent credentialing process. Grouport therapists are caring, expert mental health professionals with years of experience helping people get the tools they need to see long-lasting change.

Grouport's clinicians are licensed psychologists, LCSWs, LMFTs, LMHCs, LPCs, PsyDs, and PhDs, credentialed in the jurisdictions where they practice. Sessions run in English, and the network has extensive experience delivering one-on-one therapy Sao Tome and Principe clients, expatriates, and diaspora returnees can relate to, with cultural competence built from working across many international backgrounds rather than assumptions about any single one. Modalities on offer include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy skills, acceptance and commitment therapy, psychodynamic work, and integrative approaches, matched to what each client is bringing into the room. All sessions are HIPAA-compliant and fully confidential.

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Affordable Individual Therapy & Care Options in Sao Tome and Principe

Group, individual, couples, family, IOP, and teen therapy — all online, all therapist-led. Mix and match care options to fit your needs — and get discounted pricing when you bundle.

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Individual Therapy

$112/session
billed at $448/month

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Group Therapy

$35/session
billed at $140/month

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Partnership

Couples Therapy

$123/session
billed at $492/month

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Family Therapy

$160/session
billed at $640/month

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IOP Therapy

$337/week
billed at $1,348/month

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Teen Therapy

$112/session
billed at $448/month

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Frequently Asked Questions About Online Individual Therapy in Sao Tome and Principe

What if I don't like my therapist?

We want you to feel comfortable with your therapist, so switching therapists is always an option at any time. Simply contact our support team at support@grouporttherapy.com, and we'll match you with a different therapist from there. We’ll present you alternative therapist options and time slots that fit your preferences, and you’ll ultimately select which therapist you’d like to switch to. So the choice is always yours in terms of who you are meeting with and when. We understand that therapeutic fit is personal and that finding the right fit is essential, so we’ll be happy to work with you to ensure you’re in the optimal fit and are satisfied with your care. This type of flexibility that we provide in switching therapists or groups easily is one of the many benefits of Grouport. You can switch as many times as needed to find the right match.

Can I change my session times?

Yes, if you need to change your recurring group therapy session time you can absolutely switch groups to one that works better for your schedule. Groups work on a set schedule so we don’t reschedule group sessions but if you can’t make a particular group session we can always add in a credit as long as it's within reason. If you need to reschedule an individual, couples, or a family therapy session, you can coordinate with your therapist and our care team to find a new time for that week - just provide advance notice. ✅ Occasional reschedules are fine, but we recommend keeping changes to a minimum for consistency. ✅ Need to change your recurring weekly time? Our team will help you adjust to a new time that fits your schedule.

Is there a long-term commitment required for therapy?

No, Grouport operates on a month-to-month basis with no long-term commitments required for our therapy plans. You can cancel at anytime and you’d just finish out whichever month you’re on. This flexibility allows you to attend therapy for as long as it's helpful. Many clients continue for several months or years as they work through their goals, while others use Grouport for shorter-term support. The choice is entirely yours, and you're never obligated to continue beyond your current billing period.

What happens in a typical Grouport individual therapy session?

A typical Grouport individual therapy session is 45 to 50 minutes over HIPAA-compliant video with your matched licensed therapist. Sessions run weekly at a consistent time you and your therapist agree on. In the first session, your therapist gets a full picture of what you're working on, your history, and what you want out of therapy. In ongoing sessions, you and your therapist work through what came up during the week, practice skills, process specific concerns, and set direction for the next week. There is no group format, no other clients, no waiting your turn.

How quickly can I start individual therapy with Grouport?

Most Grouport clients complete a brief intake form and are matched to a licensed therapist within a day. Your first individual therapy session can typically happen within the same week or the following week, depending on your therapist's availability and your schedule preferences. This is significantly faster than the typical wait for in-network therapy through commercial insurance, which averages 3 to 6 weeks in most US metros and even longer internationally. There is no waitlist to join.

Can I switch therapists if my Grouport therapist isn't the right fit?

Yes, and we make it easy. Fit between client and therapist matters a lot for therapy outcomes, so if the first therapist you're matched with doesn't feel like a good fit after a session or two, you can request a new match at no additional cost. We have licensed clinicians across specialties, styles, and demographics, so there's usually a stronger match available. Just let our care coordinators know and we'll re-match you.

Is Grouport individual therapy covered by insurance?

Grouport is a self-pay service and does not currently bill insurance directly. However, many clients receive partial reimbursement through their insurance's out-of-network mental health benefits or through HSA/FSA accounts. We can provide a superbill (an itemized receipt with diagnosis codes) that you submit to your insurance for out-of-network reimbursement. The pricing ($103 per weekly session, $448/month) is often below what a single self-pay in-network session costs after deductibles, so the direct cost is competitive even before any reimbursement.

Can therapy help if I'm experiencing political instability or conflict?

Living through political instability, protests, violence, or conflict is traumatic. Therapy provides support during crises, helps you process ongoing stress and fear, and addresses trauma. If you're in danger, therapy also helps with safety planning and deciding whether to leave.

What if I'm experiencing workplace discrimination?

Workplace discrimination based on gender, race, age, disability, religion, or other factors happens in many countries. Employment protections vary, but the mental health impact is real. Therapy helps you cope with the stress of workplace discrimination and navigate difficult challenges and decisions.

Why doesn't Grouport take insurance?

Insurance has downsides. You need a formal diagnosis which goes in your medical record. It limits session frequency and duration. Involves tons of paperwork. Requires therapists to get approval for treatment. And it reimburses providers poorly, which is why many good therapists don't take insurance. Not accepting insurance keeps costs lower and gives you more control over your care. Many people find self-pay with potential reimbursement is better than dealing with insurance restrictions directly.

Grouport runs in English, but most people in Sao Tome and Principe speak Portuguese day-to-day. Is that a problem?

Grouport groups are conducted entirely in English, so you will need to feel comfortable expressing emotional experiences and following clinical discussion in English, not just handling everyday conversation. Many santomenses working in tourism, NGOs, oil-sector roles, or with the diaspora already meet that bar; others may find it a stretch. If English feels workable, the format itself removes the bigger barrier: a licensed therapist and one-on-one clients meeting weekly over secure video, joinable from Sao Tome city or Santo Antonio on Principe with a stable connection.

How does Grouport's $103 per session translate into dobras, and can I pay from a Sao Tome bank account?

Grouport bills a flat $32 USD per weekly session, which converts to roughly 700 to 750 STN at current rates, though the exact dobra amount depends on the day's exchange rate applied by your card issuer. Payment runs through Stripe and requires an internationally-enabled Visa or Mastercard; a standard BISTP or Ecobank Sao Tome debit card usually will not work unless you have specifically activated it for international online purchases. Many members use a card from a Portuguese or Angolan bank, a corporate card, or a family member's card abroad. Once payment clears, you join a group right away.

Geographic Coverage Across Sao Tome and Principe

Regions

Grouport is available to members across both of Sao Tome and Principe's autonomous regions and all districts. On Sao Tome island this includes Agua Grande, which contains the capital city and the majority of the population, plus Me-Zochi, Cantagalo, Caue, Lemba, and Lobata. On Principe, coverage extends to Pague district and the surrounding settlements. Because sessions run over video on set weekly schedules, a member in a rural district in the south of Sao Tome island joins the same one-on-one care at the same time as a member in Santo Antonio on Principe or in the capital.

Cities

City-level coverage includes Sao Tome city, the capital and administrative center where most of the country's healthcare, government, and business activity is concentrated; Trindade, the second largest urban area just inland from the capital; Santana on the eastern coast; Neves in the north; Santo Amaro; Guadalupe; and Santo Antonio on Principe island. Members in any of these urban centers benefit from denser internet infrastructure, though Grouport works from anywhere with a stable connection, including smaller settlements outside the main urban corridor.

Zip Codes

Grouport serves all zip codes across Sao Tome and Principe. If you have an address in Sao Tome and Principe, Grouport can serve you regardless of your zip code.

Online Individual Therapy Available Worldwide

Grouport offers online individual therapy available globally for people in 200+ countries. Find a licensed therapist that fits your needs for weekly one-on-one sessions.

Afghanistan Aland Islands Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Colombia Comoros Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curacao Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d'Ivoire Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Republic of the Congo Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe
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Source Citation

Country-level mental health workforce density, service infrastructure, and population indicators are drawn from the World Health Organization Global Health Observatory, the WHO Mental Health Atlas, and World Bank open data for Sao Tome and Principe.

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