Ministry of Social Welfare concludes two-day review of emergency mental health strategy with partner input

he Social Welfare Ministry's Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Directorate wrapped up its two-day review consultative meeting on Tuesday, convening government and humanitarian partners and examining Sierra Leone's "Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies Strategy (2019–2022)."

The gathering, held August 18–19 at D. BIM D BAM Hall on Wellington Street in Freetown, drew representatives from government institutions, United Nations agencies, NGOs, civil society organisations and community groups involved in MHPSS delivery.

Facilitator Binta Kallon and consultant Ibrahim John praised the Ministry for convening the meeting, calling the document review timely and essential. Director Ansumana Konneh of the MHPSS Directorate commended partners' commitment and urged participants to identify emerging issues and recommendations to guide implementation. Konneh said continued partner support was critical and thanked UNICEF for ongoing collaboration.

Deputy Director Gbangay Kanu thanked participants for their cooperation, adding that protection and safety of social workers would be captured in the review. Gbangay noted that emerging mental health issues would be highlighted and that all relevant recommendations would be incorporated into the final document.

The meeting's objectives were to: review progress in implementing the strategy; assess effectiveness of existing MHPSS interventions during emergencies; identify gaps, challenges and opportunities; gather inputs and recommendations from partners and stakeholders; strengthen coordination among MHPSS actors; and develop strategic recommendations to guide the successor MHPSS framework.

Attendees included: Ministry of Social Welfare staff; the MHPSS Directorate; government ministries, departments and agencies — MOSW, MBSSE, NDMA, MOH, MOYA, SLBC, MOGCA and MTHE; UNICEF; international and national NGOs — GOAL, IOM, Caritas SL, Action Against Hunger, FoRUT, BRAC-SL and AYV; humanitarian partners ARMeD Victims and Men on a Mission; mental health professionals; and community-based organisations. Participants shared experiences, technical expertise and recommendations toward improving MHPSS in emergencies.

The August 18 opening session underscored MHPSS as an essential emergency response component, addressing the emotional, psychological and social impacts of crises. Officials cited major national emergencies including Ebola, COVID-19 and the Freetown mudslide.

Officials presented the implementation status of the 2019–2022 strategy. Discussions noted achievements — increased mental health awareness, strengthened partnerships, improved coordination and expanded MHPSS interventions — alongside challenges including limited resources, service delivery gaps, inadequate capacity at the community level and weak integration of mental health into emergency preparedness and response.

Participants divided into six working groups addressing: migration and MHPSS; mental health, MHPSS and drug abuse; disability and MHPSS; environmental and disaster management and MHPSS; GBV and MHPSS; and emerging issues and MHPSS.

The August 19 session focused on group discussions, partner feedback and recommendations for strengthening future MHPSS interventions. Participants reviewed first-day recommendations and lessons from past emergencies, stressing the need for: improved coordination among MHPSS and humanitarian actors; increased investment in MHPSS services; stronger community-based psychosocial systems; capacity building for frontline workers; better data collection, monitoring and reporting; and accessible MHPSS services for vulnerable groups, including children, women, persons with disabilities and affected communities.

Mohamed Juana, Health Officer at UNICEF, thanked the Ministry and the MHPSS Directorate for hosting the consultative meeting and underscored the importance of the review. "Children remain especially vulnerable, shaping their futures and ours," Juana said. "Mental health issues must be treated with the highest seriousness, and we should not open doors that bring negative influences to our children. As we work to shape the environment, we must also put systems in place that reduce negative practices." He reaffirmed UNICEF's commitment, support and collaboration with the Ministry and the ongoing review.

Participants subsequently divided into groups to deliberate on emerging issues, recommendations, implementation pathways and additional proposals.

Key outcomes included: a shared understanding of progress and challenges in implementing the strategy; identification of priority areas requiring further attention and investment; strengthened collaboration between government and partners; recommendations to improve emergency mental health preparedness and response; and recognition of community participation as central to sustainable psychosocial support delivery.

Key recommendations called on the Ministry of Social Welfare to: continue strengthening leadership and coordination of MHPSS activities; increase technical and financial partner support for mental health emergency response programmes; integrate MHPSS into national emergency preparedness plans; provide continuous training for service providers and community volunteers; and establish strong referral pathways between community services and specialised mental health care providers.

The two-day review provided stakeholders an opportunity to reflect on progress, share experiences and chart practical steps for strengthening Sierra Leone's MHPSS services. The Ministry, through its MHPSS Directorate, expressed appreciation for partners' contributions and noted that meeting outcomes will support continued efforts to build a more coordinated, resilient and effective mental health emergency response system for the people of Sierra Leone.