KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo —
Authorities and mental health advocates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are intensifying calls for sweeping reforms to the country’s mental health system, as growing concerns emerge over outdated laws, limited services, and widespread stigma.
Health professionals warn that thousands of people living with mental health conditions face neglect and, in some cases, inhumane treatment, particularly in informal care centres where regulation is weak or nonexistent.
“There is an urgent need to modernize our laws and protect the rights of patients,” a Kinshasa-based psychiatrist said, noting that the current framework does not reflect modern medical standards or human rights protections.
Despite increased awareness in urban areas, access to trained mental health professionals remains scarce, especially in rural communities where services are nearly absent. Advocacy groups say this gap has left many families to rely on traditional or unregulated treatment methods.
The push for reform is gaining traction among civil society organizations, who argue that addressing mental health is critical to national recovery in a country still grappling with the long-term effects of conflict and economic instability.
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