When faced with mental health issues, women in Sierra Leone frequently have nowhere to turn in their community. Out of eight million people, there are only five psychiatrists in the nation, meaning that most women do not have access to the critical mental health care they require. The Nyali Foundation is urging more funding for women’s mental health services in Sierra Leone on this International Women’s Day.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Invest in women: Accelerate progress,” and this investment must include mental health support. Successful communities and countries depend on strong, empowered women, but many Sierra Leonean women are unable to realise their full potential because they lack access to adequate mental health care. Because there are insufficient mental health resources in the nation, women who experience trauma, anxiety, or postpartum depression cannot get the help they need to recover.
Ms. Mahawa Nyandebo, Founder, Nyali FoundationIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nyali Foundation, which was founded in 2015 as a community-based organisation and charity, has refocused its efforts on women’s mental health. In 2021, they arranged group therapy sessions with a “Breaking the Cycle” theme for women between the ages of 18 and 70 in association with Plan International. Understanding how social determinants affect mental health, especially in young people in Freetown, the foundation also started a campaign against drugs to increase public awareness of the risks associated with drug abuse.
In 2024, the Nyali Foundation plans to build a comprehensive mental health centre devoted to women’s wellness in collaboration with local leaders. Under WHO recommendations and UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, this centre will offer free psychosocial support and inclusive welfare benefits. The Nyali Foundation works to end the stigma around mental health by establishing safe spaces for healing and making it clear that no Sierra Leonean woman has to experience trauma or depression in silence.
To address Sierra Leone’s urgent need for mental health support, the Nyali Foundation is pushing for more qualified psychiatrists, a decentralised mental health network that includes all government hospitals nationwide, and qualified community mental health workers. They also support social marketing initiatives that de-stigmatize getting help for mental health issues.
“Let us not overlook the vital role that mental health plays in empowering women and creating vibrant communities as we observe International Women’s Day and consider how investing in women can advance society. It is time for Sierra Leone’s leaders to put women’s mental health first and make sure that every woman has access to the care and support she needs to flourish” said Ms. Mahawa Nyandebo, the founder of Nyali Foundation.
