MENTAL HEALTH
IMPACT NETWORK
Taking Action, Creating Impact
The Gap In Mental Health
Mental health care is one of the most neglected areas of healthcare in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), contributing to a rising global burden of disease. Millions of individuals suffer from mental disorders that cause long-term distress, limit productivity, and diminish quality of life. Yet, despite the availability of cost-effective interventions, mental health services receive only a fraction of the necessary funding, leaving those in need without access to care.
Kenya
An estimated 76–85% of people living with mental disorders go untreated. The country has a population of over 53 million yet only about 120 registered psychiatrists; roughly 0.19 per 100,000 people, far short of the 1,441 psychiatrists needed.
Psychologists are even scarcer, at just 0.03 per 100,000 people. Public psychiatric infrastructure is extremely limited; Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, the only public psychiatric facility, offers around 700 beds in Nairobi.
While Kenya has adopted the Mental Health Policy (2015–2030) and National Mental Health Action Plan (2021–2025) to integrate care into primary health services, implementation has been slow and uneven, particularly at the county level.
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Chronic underfunding, high out-of-pocket costs, stigma, and cultural misconceptions remain major barriers. Funding for mental health accounts for less than 2% of health budgets, and a single counselling session can cost Ksh 6,000–15,000, often beyond the reach of most households. In many communities, mental illness is still viewed through spiritual or supernatural beliefs, delaying or preventing treatment.
Sierra Leone
The mental health treatment gap in Sierra Leone is staggering with 98% of individuals with severe mental illness receiving no treatment. The country with a population nearing 8 million, has just one in-patient psychiatric facility, the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Teaching Hospital (formerly Kissy Lunatic Asylum), which can treat only about 150 patients at a time.
Until recently, Sierra Leone had only two psychiatrists, two clinical psychologists, and 19 mental health nurses, most of whom are based in the capital, leaving the rest of the country severely underserved. This chronic infrastructure and workforce shortage has contributed to the overwhelming treatment gap.
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Beyond the lack of infrastructure, stigma and cultural beliefs that remain deeply entrenched, public awareness and literacy about mental health are also extremely low .
Liberia
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Liberia faces a severe mental health crisis, with only two psychiatrists and one psychiatric hospital serving over five million people. Less than 1% of the population has access to mental health care, leaving a vast treatment gap.
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While trained clinicians and community health workers are helping integrate Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) into local health systems, major challenges persist. Stigma, lack of funding, few trained professionals, and the psychological toll of civil war and Ebola have compounded the crisis.
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Addressing this gap requires sustained commitment to accessible services, community-led support, and a national focus on mental health as a public priority.
