(Feature)
By: Mohamed Sahr mohamedsahrpro@gmail.com
The immediate need for Sierra Leone to improve mental health is a matter of both public health and economic stability. It is evidenced that the country is one of the highest recipients of mental illness in the world with an estimated 7.5% of the population suffering from a mental health condition according to World Health Organization Survey Initiative in 2011. This means that the people are not getting the appropriate treatment, and it is taking a severe toll on the country’s economy.
People with mental health conditions like stress, anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are unlikely to be part of the employment society and sometimes ostracized in different communities. To say the least, the outdated 1902 Lunacy Act fails to provide modern framework for mental health care and does not protect the rights of people with mental health conditions. The newly drafted mental health Bill would modernize mental health laws, provide better protection for people with mental health issues, and establish a framework for the delivery of mental health services in the country. Therefore, it is safe to say that there is hope for the need to improve mental health if only we create a healthier and productive society based on the multi-faceted approach.
Increase in funding is one of the potential ways to improve mental health. Scaling up government spending on mental health either by allocating more funds from the national budget or by seeking funding from international donors brings different facelift to the county’s mental health system. In this regard, increasing fund means that more people would have access to mental health services, including therapy, medication and support groups that which would bring out private-sector investment through initiatives such as tax incentives, donations, fundraising campaigns or public -private partnerships. Studies have shown that people with mental health conditions often have higher rates of physical health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease. Therefore, by addressing mental health through the increment of fund, it may be possible to improve physical health as well.
In addition, the expansion and strengthening of mental programs through training could be essential for mental health eradication in Sierra Leone. Mental Health Services Outcomes in their findings from World Health Organization’s Atlas shows in 2017 that there was only 4.6 mental health hospital bed per 100,000 people in Sierra Leone. Based on this, the statistics demonstrates that the figure was well below the WHO’s recommendation of 10 beds per 100,000 people.
Notwithstanding, increasing public awareness and education on mental health in Sierra Leone provides a defining approach for both government and private sectors to fully partake in order for this menace to ghost out. It is obviously clear that mental health has left a serious scar into the progress of the government particularly among young people. World Development Report that invests in health courtesy of World Bank in 2007 notes that mental health is a priority issue for global health policy, and that enriching mental health literacy and reducing stigma are paramount to add value to mental health outcomes.
In conclusion, with all these rudiments being discussed, there are several possible solutions to mental health issues in Sierra Leone. One of these ways for government to step up for a prospective future is to strengthening primary healthcare services could make mental health care more accessible to the population. Also, the government in partnership with private sectors should establish community-based mental health programs to ensure that people have access to care in their own communities. Another initiative is to invest in the training and retention of mental health professionals could be the one best way to improve the quality and quantity of the affordable services. Finally, improving the availability of psychotropic medications could help to ensure that those with mental health conditions have access to effective treatments in the country.
In sum, improving mental health in Sierra Leone is an urgent issue that requires immediate action from the ascribed sectors. However, there are opportunities for change vis-a-vis increasing funding and commitment from the government and international organizations. Implementing this, Sierra Leone can make strides towards improving mental health and building a more stable and prosperous future.