Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, the Gambia)- In an exclusive interview with Gambia Journal, Dr. Fatoumata Sarjo, Secretary General of the Mental Health Week Taskforce, has called for urgent policy reforms to decriminalise attempted suicide in The Gambia, describing the act as “a cry for help, not a crime.”
Speaking on the sidelines of activities marking World Mental Health Day 2025 in Banjul, Dr. Sarjo emphasised that mental health must take centre stage in national conversations if the country is serious about building a healthier society.
“When someone tries to take their own life, it should not be treated as a criminal offence. That person needs help, not handcuffs,” she stressed.
According to Dr. Sarjo, The Gambia’s current approach to suicide attempts, which treats the act as a punishable offence, discourages people from seeking help and deepens stigma around mental health. She described this as one of the most urgent areas for reform.
“No person who is doing well would want to take their own life. That alone tells you that such individuals are in distress and need medical and psychological care, not prosecution,” she said.
The Secretary General noted that mental health awareness in The Gambia remains low, despite a rising number of people battling depression, anxiety, and trauma.
The weeklong national campaign, coordinated by the Mental Health Week Taskforce under the National Mental Health Program in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, WHO, and several civil society organisations, aims to change that.
Events include school outreach programmes, community and faith dialogues, mental health screenings, and a Walk for Mental Health, all designed to foster empathy and end stigma.
Dr. Sarjo said they are determined to push for policies that align with human rights standards and global mental health priorities. She added that part of the goal is to ensure people can speak openly about mental health challenges without fear or shame.
“People are broken. They are going through so much but keep silent because society will judge them. It’s time we hold space for one another and make seeking help normal,” she urged.
As the commemoration continues throughout the week, organisers hope to spark national reflection and influence legislative changes that will treat mental health with the compassion and urgency it deserves.
“Without mental health, there is no health,” Dr. Sarjo concluded. “Our mind, body, and soul work together if one suffers, the others follow. It’s time The Gambia takes that seriously.”
