The capacity among health care professionals to deliver effective mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS) in the context of migrants and Gambian returnees from abroad remains a big challenge in the Gambia. At the beginning of 2020, the country didn’t have the necessary strategic framework and guidelines on MHPSS to enhance the sustainable reintegration of migrants and Gambian returnees into their respective communities.

WHO Country Office provided leadership and technical guidance in addressing MHPSS by forming strategic partnership with International Organization for Migration (IOM). WHO and IOM, under the UN Peace Building Fund, supported The Gambia to strengthen mental health and psychosocial support for migrants and Gambian returnees.   

IOM provided administrative support while WHO provided technical and strategic guidance through initiating and guiding the development of a national Mental Health and Psychosocial Strategic Services (MHPSS) strategic framework and MHPSS Curriculum in line with WHO guidelines, facilitating printing and distribution of WHO guidelines on the management of stress and promotion of mental health during COVID-19, facilitating review and adaptation of WHO Mental Health Gap Treatment Guidelines, and training of health care workers on the use of the guidelines.

Strategic documents are now in place to guide the country’s delivery of mental and psychosocial support services for the successful and sustainable reintegration of migrants and Gambian returnees. The curriculum is being used in training health institutions to train students and health care professionals to strengthen the capacity in the country. The potential for mobilizing additional resources has been enhanced by leveraging on strategic partnership, trust, and confidence among key stakeholders.

It is believed that the development of the MHPSS strategic framework and curriculum will catalyze the overall integration of mental health and psychosocial support services into primary health care. This will further boost the equitable delivery of mental and psychosocial services in the country. 

Photo caption: National consultation with healthcare and social workers on addressing MHPSS issues.

Photo credit: WHO