Senegal: Government launches reforms to improve mental health
In Senegal, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko expressed his concern in the Council of Ministers about the inadequate treatment of mental disorders. This alarm follows three recent suicides among young people, a phenomenon that highlights the shortcomings of the mental health system. Professionals in the sector, who have been sounding the alarm for several years, insist on the need for urgent reforms, both in terms of resources and the organization of care.
A sector in crisis
With fewer than 40 psychiatrists for a population of 18 million, Senegal suffers from a lack of adequate infrastructure, especially outside Dakar. Ansoumana Dione, president of theAssociation sénégalaise pour le suivi et l’assistance aux malades mentaux, deplores the situation: “In the regions, people have difficulty accessing psychiatrists and the necessary medication. We need to open psychiatric departments in every hospital in the country.”
A worrying state of affairs
The situation is further complicated by the obsolescence of psychiatric departments in public hospitals. Professor Aïda Sylla, head of the psychiatric department at Fann Hospital, points out: “The facilities are obsolete, and safety conditions are inadequate. We have to improvise to stabilize patients before sending them home, but hospitalization conditions are far from ideal.” This situation is difficult for many Senegalese to accept.
Reforms in the pipeline
Faced with this situation, the government is committed to taking action. On April 10, 2025, Ousmane Sonko called for reform proposals to be submitted by the end of August. These reforms will aim to modernize the 1975 Mental Health Act, and address the challenges of access to care and the lack of suitable facilities for patients.
