By: Saidu Jalloh
The Mental Health Secretariat, in collaboration with the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), has officially launched a nationwide Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Provider Mapping Survey aimed at strengthening coordination and expanding access to mental health services across Sierra Leone.
The launch event, held at Kings View Resort in Sussex, brought together government officials, development partners, civil society organizations, and community representatives.
According to organizers, the survey will map mental health and psychosocial support services nationwide using the World Health Organization (WHO) Standard MHPSS 4Ws Tool. The assessment will collect data on service availability, human resources, infrastructure, referral pathways, and the geographic distribution of services across the country.
Dr. Carol Labor, Lead of the Mental Health Secretariat, stated that the exercise is intended to generate reliable data to guide evidence-based planning and policy decisions in the mental health sector. She emphasized that accurate and up-to-date information is essential for improving coordination and expanding access to quality mental health services.
The survey will employ a rapid online methodology to facilitate real-time data collection and ensure comprehensive national coverage.
Development partners, including the World Bank, the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC), and CODaP, commended the government’s initiative and pledged continued technical and financial support.
Officials noted that the initiative comes at a critical time, as Sierra Leone continues to address the long-term effects of the civil war and public health emergencies such as the Ebola outbreak, the COVID-19 pandemic, flooding, mudslides, and mpox. Authorities also expressed concern about the growing prevalence of substance use disorders, including the spread of Kush.
Nationwide data collection is expected to commence immediately, followed by data analysis, validation, and dissemination of findings.
The government stated that the survey results will help shape future policy direction and strengthen the integration of mental health services into Sierra Leone’s public health and emergency preparedness systems.