By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, Wait, wait, hold on, sir. Yes, I am addressing you directly because what I want to bring to your attention is critical, an issue that has left many Sierra Leoneans perplexed, if not outright disheartened. It concerns that mental health report that has seemingly sent waves of celebration among your supporters. Mr. President, pardon my confusion, but should a report on mental health really be a cause for jubilation? If this is what your fanatics are celebrating, it is a worrying trend indeed.
Let me be clear: I am no mental health expert, but I do know one thing: we have a mental health crisis. And not just a small one, but one that is growing like an unchecked wildfire. This is no laughing matter. The irony of your supporters’ reaction to this report is palpable. Sierra Leone is a state with over eight million people, not an NGO or a charity case. Our citizens deserve policies and actions that recognize their dignity and humanity, not events that make it seem as though they are utensils to be studied, filed, and forgotten.
Mr. President, “e tan lek ol man wae dae celebrate na mental health patient dem o.” Our people are struggling, and if mental health is the “biggest killer in Sierra Leone” right now, why are we not seeing an urgent and robust response? Celebrating a report without action is a slap in the face of those who suffer silently. Let me tell you, the pain, stigma, and hopelessness associated with mental illness in our country are no cause for fanfare.
The challenges are many. Substance abuse, particularly the scourge of “Kush,” has ravaged the mental well-being of our youth. Poverty, unemployment, and the lack of access to basic services compound the issue, creating a vicious cycle of despair. Families are broken, lives are lost, and futures are stolen all while we continue to treat this as a secondary issue. Mr. President, it is time to wake up to the reality that this crisis requires urgent intervention.
Mr. President, I have to ask what is with the reports? It seems like you are collecting them like trophies to fill the shelves of your newly created archive under Dr. Joe A. D. Alie. Yes, Mr. President, “yu na man wae dae see far.” You may be envisioning a legacy of documented efforts but reports alone do not solve problems. Actions do. Policies do. Commitment to tangible outcomes does.
If the mental health report is as critical as it seems, why is it hidden? Why is there no public discourse or immediate strategy emerging from it? We, the people, need to know what is in that report. We need to understand the scope of the problem and what your government plans to do about it. Transparency is not just a good practice; it is a necessity in governance.
Mr. President, let me emphasize this: “E nor funny o.” Mental health issues are not something to be taken lightly. Depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other mental disorders are silently claiming lives. They affect families, communities, and the productivity of our nation. Yet, we lack the infrastructure, resources, and awareness to address these issues adequately. Where are the mental health facilities? Where are the trained professionals? Where is the nationwide awareness campaign to destigmatize mental illness?
Your government has a responsibility to prioritize mental health as a public health issue. This means allocating resources to build facilities, train professionals, and implement programs that provide support and treatment. It also means addressing the root causes of mental illness, such as poverty, unemployment, and drug abuse.
Mr. President, let us not forget the elephant in the room: “Kush don finish wi youth dem”. The widespread abuse of this synthetic drug has left countless youths mentally incapacitated. This is not just a health issue; it is a national emergency. The proliferation of Kush is destroying lives and futures, and yet the response from your government has been inadequate at best. Where are the crackdowns on producers and suppliers? Where are the rehabilitation programs for users? Where is the public education campaign to warn our youth of the dangers?
The mental health crisis cannot be addressed without tackling the Kush epidemic head-on. This requires a multi-faceted approach that includes law enforcement, education, and rehabilitation. It is not enough to acknowledge the problem; we need decisive action.
Mr. President, I am calling on you to make the contents of that mental health report public. Let us know what the findings are and what recommendations have been made. More importantly, let us know what your government plans to do about it. The people of Sierra Leone deserve transparency and accountability, especially on an issue as critical as this.
Furthermore, I urge you to go beyond reports and take concrete action. Establish mental health facilities in every region. Train and hire mental health professionals. Launch a nationwide campaign to destigmatize mental illness and promote awareness. And take decisive action to address the root causes of mental illness, including poverty, unemployment, and drug abuse.
Mr. President, Sierra Leone is not just a collection of reports and archives. It is a nation of people, people who are suffering, people who are struggling, and people who deserve better. The mental health crisis is not something that can be ignored or swept under the rug. It is a ticking time bomb that threatens the future of our nation.
You have the power to make a difference. You have the power to lead. But leadership requires action, not just words. It requires courage, not just promises. And it requires a commitment to the well-being of the people, not just the preservation of a legacy.
Mr. President, I leave you with this: Mental health is not just a health issue; it is a human rights issue. The people of Sierra Leone deserve access to mental health care, support, and a society that values their well-being. They deserve a government that takes their struggles seriously and acts with urgency to address them.
So, Mr. President, can we talk? And this time, can we move beyond reports and take the bold, decisive action that the people of Sierra Leone so desperately need?
