SUCCEED Sierra Leone joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Mental Health Day on Friday, October 10, 2025, at the University of Makeni (UNIMAK) auditorium. The event brought together hundreds of participants, including community members, students, traditional leaders and policymakers, to discuss this year’s theme: “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies.”
The commemoration reshaped how many attendees viewed mental health, promoting inclusivity and reducing stigma. For petty trader Aminata Kanu, the event was transformative. “I no longer hold a negative perception about the mentally ill in my community,” she said, commending SUCCEED Sierra Leone for its awareness campaign. She added that supporting mental health must be a community-driven effort.
Similarly, Sidu Bangura, a final-year Mass Communication student at UNIMAK, shared that his perspective had completely changed. “I now understand that mental health inclusivity is key for national development,” he remarked, urging authorities and SUCCEED Sierra Leone to intensify public education on mental health issues.
SUCCEED Sierra Leone, part of a six-year consortium research project focused on psychosis, operates in partnership with four African countries and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Established in 2020, the program aims to empower people with psychosocial disabilities across sub-Saharan Africa.
During the event, Dr. Rebecca Esliker, SUCCEED Sierra Leone’s Principal Investigator, called for an end to stigma against mental health patients. “We are all susceptible to mental health challenges, so stop the stigmatization,” she urged. “People with psychosis can be useful members of society. Mental health is a right, not a privilege.”
Program Manager, Veronica Kamara, explained that SUCCEED Sierra Leone uses a co-production model focused on psychosis interventions at the community level. “Do not dispose of them. Help them grow and be well so they can contribute meaningfully to society,” she emphasized.
Research Coordinator, Amjata Bayoh, highlighted the project’s ongoing community engagements through school lectures, university programs, radio discussions and social media campaigns aimed at transforming public attitudes toward mental health.
Representing Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Barrie, Member of Parliament for Bombali District, pledged to advocate for stronger mental health policies. “I will raise the issue of mental health and acknowledge SUCCEED Sierra Leone’s work during parliamentary debates,” he said.
Traditional leaders also demonstrated their commitment. Paramount Chief Masa Yeli Ntham III of Gbanti Chiefdom announced that all 12 Paramount Chiefs in Bombali District plan to enact bylaws to promote mental health awareness. “We are grateful to SUCCEED Sierra Leone for commemorating this important day,” he noted.
Peer researchers Esther Moses Kamara and Nancy Amada Stevens shared their recovery stories, inspiring the audience with their journeys from mental health challenges to becoming active contributors to national development.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Patrick Turay, Director of Holy Spirit Hospital, revealed that one in five Sierra Leoneans suffers from some form of mental health issue. He linked that to the country’s civil conflict, health epidemics like Ebola, Mpox and COVID-19 and other emergencies. “Mental health is a basic human right,” he stated, describing SUCCEED’s work as a vital complement to national and private health sector efforts.
The 2025 commemoration concluded with renewed pledges from participants to promote empathy, inclusivity and access to mental health services across Sierra Leone; underscoring SUCCEED Sierra Leone’s enduring message: mental health matters for everyone, everywhere.
