The Gambia has been saluted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), for being in the forefront of mobilising the much-needed policy support for the promotion of mental health in the country.

This is contained in a statement delivered by Dr Nestor Shivute, WHO Representative in The Gambia, on the occasion of World Mental Health Day on October 10th, themed ‘Mental health is a changing world: the impact of culture and diversity’.

 He observed that the development of a mental health policy and a strategic plan is a clear testimony of The Gambia government’s resolve to improve the mental well-being of the Gambian people, adding that what is needed now is to raise the necessary  resources for the realisation of the goals and ideals contained in the policy documents.

On the importance of the day, Dr Shivute, noted that the day is not only dedicated to awareness raising on mental health issues, but it is also about nations and communities taking the right decision, putting the right policies in place and taking the appropriate action at all levels, for the prevention and control of mental and neurological disorders.

“World Mental Health Day is a day set aside for all of us, irrespective of who we are, where we are and what we do, to reflect on the plight of the mentally-ill, and to take the necessary action for the promotion of the mental well-being of  every member of our communities.

 It must be emphasised that just as health is not merely the absence of disease, mental health is also not simply the absence of mental disorder, but represents a positive state of mental well-being,” he noted.

The WHO boss, said “we live in a culturally interconnected world where one person in every 35 is an international migrant, noting that dramatically different languages, religions and cultures co-exist in a single country. 

“This cultural diversity may influence many aspects of mental health, including how individuals from a given culture communicate and manifest their symptoms, their style of coping, their family and community supports, and their willingness to seek treatment,” he said.

He added that the 2007 World Mental Health Day on the theme-an initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, draws attention to trans-cultural mental health service and treatment. He added that culture and diversity, the main thrust of this year’s campaign, therefore, have to always be taken into account, if we are to ensure the attainment of positive mental well-being of individuals, but quickly observed that, our cultures and indeed all spheres of social interaction are being continuously impacted upon on a daily basis by “the winds of globalisation”.

To put it simple, the WHO’s Dr Shivute emphasised that culture can profoundly influence the way people experience mental illness, noting that language difference and understanding makes the diagnosis of mental disorders greatly dependent on the ability of the sufferer to explain his/her

According to him, it is unfortunate that “we unavoidably live in a culturally-interconnected world”.

On behalf of the WHO, he commended the high religious and cultural tolerance in The Gambia which, according to him, if fully harnessed can positively influence on the mental well-being of all its citizenry.

The WHO Representative then congratulated the government of The Gambia, and indeed the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare, on the finalisation of the mental health policy and strategic  plan and to solicit the support of everyone for their implementation as, according to him, mental health is and should be everyone’s concern.