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 during activities marking World Mental Health Day 2025 in Banjul, Dr. Sarjo urged
lawmakers, health professionals, and communities to recognise mental health as a central
part of national development and social wellbeing.
“When someone tries to take their own life, it should not be treated as a criminal offence,”
she said. “That person needs help, not handcuffs.”
According to Dr. Sarjo, The Gambia’s current laws, which classify attempted suicide as a
punishable offence, discourage people from seeking help and fuel stigma surrounding
mental health. She described this as one of the most urgent areas that require policy
attention.
“No person who is doing well would want to take their own life,” she explained. “That alone
tells you such individuals are in distress and need medical and psychological care, not
prosecution.”
Dr. Sarjo emphasised that while conversations around mental health are growing globally,
awareness in The Gambia remains low. She noted that an increasing number of people are
silently battling depression, anxiety, and trauma, yet fear speaking out because of stigma
and legal consequences.
The weeklong commemoration, under the National Mental Health Program, in collaboration
with the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), and civil society
organisations, seeks to change that narrative.Activities include school outreach programmes, community and faith dialogues, mental health screenings, and a “Walk for Mental Health” — all designed to encourage empathy, dialogue, and understanding.
Dr. Sarjo said the goal is to push for policies that align with human rights standards and
global mental health priorities, ensuring that people can speak openly about their struggles
without fear or shame.
“People are broken. They are going through so much but keep silent because society will
judge them,” she said. “It’s time we hold space for one another and make seeking help
normal.”
As World Mental Health Day continues to be marked throughout the week, organisers hope
their campaign will inspire national reflection and legislative change, positioning mental
health as a public health priority rather than a taboo.
“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.”
