In The Gambia, major reforms are underway that could reshape mental health care for decades. A Mental Health Bill 2025 — developed with technical input from stakeholders, civil society, and international partners — aims to replace the outdated Lunatics Detention Act of 1917 with a modern, rights-based, community-focused legal framework. �
This new law emphasizes dignity, integration of services into community settings — including schools and prisons — and the protection of basic rights for people with mental health conditions. It also seeks to establish national governance bodies to oversee and coordinate care, moving beyond fragmented and under-resourced services. �
Mental health advocates in The Gambia see this reform as a potential watershed moment for improving access to care, reducing stigma, and embedding psychological support into the broader health system.
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