By Janita Fatmata Jenkins
Freetown, 12th October, 2026 – The National Public Health Agency (NPHA), through its Mental Health Secretariat, in collaboration with the Multisectoral Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Technical Working Group, has convened the 2026 National Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Mapping Exercise Validation Meeting as part of activities commemorating World Mental Health Day 2026.
The meeting brought together senior government officials and representatives from key institutions, including the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), the Office of National Security (ONS), the Sierra Leone Correctional Service, and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to review and validate findings from the national mapping exercise.
The exercise is designed to provide a clearer picture of the availability, accessibility and delivery of mental health and psychosocial support services across relevant institutions in Sierra Leone. It also seeks to identify existing gaps, assess institutional capacities and highlight areas where improved coordination and targeted interventions are needed to strengthen mental health service delivery nationwide.
Through the validation process, participating institutions were expected to examine the findings, share perspectives from their respective sectors and ensure that the information accurately reflects the current state of mental health and psychosocial support services.
Deputy Executive Director of the NPHA, Dr Mohamed A. Vandi, underscored the importance of the mapping exercise in strengthening the country’s mental health and psychosocial support system. He highlighted the need for a coordinated, evidence-based approach to understanding existing services, identifying unmet needs and ensuring that institutions are better equipped to respond to the mental health challenges faced by their personnel and the wider population.
The exercise, he noted, provides an opportunity for relevant stakeholders to assess current capacities and identify priorities for improving access to appropriate mental health and psychosocial support. Dr Vandi’s remarks also reinforced the importance of collaboration among government institutions in ensuring that mental health receives appropriate attention across different sectors, particularly those whose personnel may be exposed to stressful, demanding or traumatic working environments.
The Lead and Technical Adviser at the NPHA Mental Health Secretariat, Dr Carol Labor, outlined the Secretariat’s plans to strengthen mental health support and improve collaboration among institutions involved in the delivery of mental health and psychosocial services.
She highlighted the importance of building stronger institutional partnerships, improving the coordination of support services and ensuring that mental health considerations are integrated into workplace practices and broader public health interventions. “The Secretariat’s efforts are expected to contribute to a more coordinated approach to identifying mental health needs, addressing service gaps and promoting the well-being of individuals and communities,” she said.
The meeting further emphasised the importance of equipping personnel with practical skills to recognise and manage stress, respond appropriately to psychological distress and access relevant support when needed. These measures are particularly important in workplaces where staff may encounter emergencies, security-related pressures, correctional responsibilities and other challenging circumstances.
As part of activities marking World Mental Health Day 2026, participating institutions are also looking forward to psychosocial support training aimed at helping personnel manage stress and apply appropriate mental health support practices within their respective workplaces.
The planned training is expected to strengthen participants’ understanding of psychosocial well-being and provide practical approaches to promoting supportive working environments. It will also reinforce the importance of recognising signs of emotional distress, responding with empathy and encouraging individuals experiencing mental health difficulties to seek appropriate assistance.
The initiative reflects the broader importance of making mental health and psychosocial support an integral part of institutional well-being, rather than treating it solely as a response to crises. Strengthening awareness, building staff capacity and fostering supportive workplace cultures can help institutions better protect the well-being of their personnel while improving their ability to carry out their responsibilities.
The validation meeting represents an important step towards consolidating information on existing mental health and psychosocial support services in Sierra Leone. Its findings are expected to inform future planning, guide interventions and help stakeholders establish clearer priorities for strengthening service delivery across participating institutions.
As Sierra Leone joins the global community in commemorating World Mental Health Day 2026, the NPHA and its partners continue to highlight the importance of collaboration, evidence-based decision-making and sustained institutional commitment to improving mental well-being.
The outcomes of the mapping exercise are expected to provide a foundation for more targeted interventions, stronger partnerships and improved coordination of mental health and psychosocial support services, contributing to a more responsive and supportive system for people across the country.
