On World Mental Health Day, we are faced with the urgent and pressing reality of The Gambia’s ongoing mental health crisis. This crisis, marked by outdated laws and severely underfunded services, cannot be ignored.  

The introduction of a new policy, which remains unexecuted, underscores the need for immediate and decisive action. This is not a problem that can be put off for another day; it is a deep-rooted, persistent challenge that demands our immediate and sustained attention. We cannot afford to delay any longer. Addressing mental health is not just a duty but a vital necessity for the well-being of our nation.

Despite the Gambia’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2015 and the development of a Mental Health Policy and Strategic Plan in 2007, the country still operates under colonial-era laws like the Suspected Lunatic Act of 1942 and the Lunatics Detention Act of 1964, which remain unrepealed and incompatible with human rights standards.

Mr. Felije Danso’s haunting image—shirtless, dirt-caked, dragging a bag of discarded waste through Serekunda remains emblematic of the Gambia’s mental health crisis. Five years since this story was first told, the conditions have barely changed. Mentally ill individuals still roam the streets, invisible to the public, abandoned by the state, and stigmatised by society.

Mental illness in the Gambia is not just a health issue—it’s a dire human rights emergency. The archaic Lunatics Detention Act, still in force, lacks definitions, safeguards, and legal remedies. It permits indefinite detention without consent, review, or legal aid.  

In 2003, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights found the Gambia in violation of multiple articles of the African Charter and urged repeal and reform. Yet, seventeen years later, the law remains unrepealed.  This is a clear violation of human rights and a stark reminder of the urgent need for reform.

The 2007 Mental Health Policy and Strategic Plan laid the necessary groundwork: decentralisation, integration into primary care, and community sensitisation. But implementation faltered. Mental health services remain centralised, underfunded (less than 2% of the health budget), and inaccessible in rural regions. 

Facilities like Tanka Tanka, though an upgrade from Campama, still face overcrowding, prolonged detention, and questionable treatment protocols.

In 2024, a new Mental Health Bill was validated by Cabinet and stakeholders, aiming to repeal the outdated laws and align with international standards.  

This bill, which includes provisions for community-based care, rights protection, and anti-stigma measures, offers hope for a more humane and effective mental health system. However, as of October 2025, the bill has not yet been tabled in Parliament. 

The delay reflects a broader neglect of mental health as a national priority.

Mental illness remains taboo. Many Gambians attribute it to witchcraft, leading to isolation, abuse, and denial of fundamental rights. Unlike physical disabilities, mental health lacks advocacy, visibility, and institutional support.  Even within health facilities, patients are often warehoused rather than rehabilitated.

What Must Be Done

The immediate repeal of colonial-era laws and the enactment of the Mental Health Bill are not just suggestions; they are necessities. We need to integrate mental health into primary healthcare through trained personnel and community outreach. 

It’s crucial to provide human rights-based education and sensitisation, led by survivors, traditional healers, and civil society. We should create supported employment and entrepreneurship programs to break the cycles of poverty and stigma. 

Additionally, independent investigations into allegations of abuse in psychiatric facilities and traditional settings must be conducted. These actions are not mere recommendations; they are urgent measures that need to be taken now.

On this World Mental Health Day, The Gambia must confront its pressing challenges with urgency. The suffering of individuals like Felije Danso is not an unavoidable fate; it is the direct consequence of policy paralysis, legal inaction, and widespread societal indifference. 

While the new Mental Health Policy offers a glimmer of hope, it requires bold legislative courage and a genuine commitment to funding. Let us ensure that this day is not merely symbolic. Let it ignite a movement toward justice, dignity, and comprehensive care for every Gambian living with mental illness. It’s time to act decisively and compassionately.

By Alagi Yorro Jallow