A groundbreaking survey by the Mental Health Service The Gambia reveals that one in every eight Gambians, roughly 324,000 people, are battling mental health issues.

The findings expose the extent of the mental health crisis in the country, where factors such as economic hardships and limited healthcare access are contributing to widespread mental disorders.

Among those affected, 81,000 individuals are grappling with severe mental health conditions, while nearly 918,000 people are struggling with depression and anxiety, highlighting the urgent need for intervention and support.

In response to Africa’s growing mental health challenges, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) launched the Mental Health Leadership Programme (MHLP) at a high-level event attended by health ministers from Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, and senior representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The MHLP, introduced during the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, aims to equip health leaders across Africa with the tools to address mental health through a public health and human rights lens.

The initiative is supported by the Wellcome Trust, which has funded numerous African mental health research projects focusing on conditions like anxiety, depression, and psychosis.

Despite these efforts, Africa’s mental health services remain critically underfunded. With just 1.4 mental health workers per 100,000 people and only 14 outpatient mental health visits per 100,000 people annually, the continent faces significant challenges in providing care for its 120 million people living with mental health disorders.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa CDC, stressed that “mental health policies in Africa are mostly outdated and poorly implemented,” underscoring the necessity for comprehensive, modern approaches to combat the growing crisis.

By Adama Makasuba