The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, has called for greater involvement of people living with mental health conditions in the formulation of policies and delivery of mental healthcare services across the continent.
Janabi made the call in his message marking the 2026 World Mental Health Day, with the theme, “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change.”
He said mental health influences every aspect of life, from education and employment to relationships and participation in community development.
The WHO Regional Director disclosed that nearly 150 million people across Africa live with mental health, neurological or substance use conditions, including depression, anxiety and alcohol and other substance use disorders.
He expressed concern that despite the scale of the challenge, many affected persons still lack access to appropriate care, while stigma and discrimination continue to prevent others from seeking help.
Janabi said the experiences of people directly affected by mental health conditions should form an important part of decisions concerning their care.
He argued that their experiences could expose gaps in existing services, identify effective forms of support and promote healthcare that respects human dignity and fundamental rights.
According to him, people with lived experience should not only be invited to tell their stories but should also participate in developing policies, designing services and strengthening peer-support initiatives.
“Listening must lead to participation,” he said, stressing that the combination of lived experience with clinical and public health expertise would produce more responsive and accountable mental health systems.
Janabi said WHO had begun promoting greater participation of people with lived experience in its programmes across the African Region.
He disclosed that they served as key facilitators during the organisation’s Regional Mental Health Webinar Series and Mental Health Intercountry Learning Meetings in South Africa and Togo.
He said the initiatives were delivered in partnership with the Pan African Network of People with Psychosocial Disabilities, Aves Mental Health and United for Global Mental Health.
The WHO official also highlighted the recently published Mental Health in Africa Investment Case, which calls for stronger community-based services, protection of human rights and sustained involvement of people who use mental health services.
He said integrating mental health into primary healthcare was central to efforts to achieve universal health coverage across the continent.
However, Janabi identified inadequate funding and limited access to services as major challenges.
He disclosed that only seven of the 47 countries in the WHO African Region were implementing comprehensive mental health integration into primary healthcare.
He added that average government expenditure on mental health in the region stood at only US$0.07 per person, compared with US$2.69 globally.
According to him, mental health services are also frequently fragmented or concentrated in major cities, leaving many communities without access to care close to home.
Janabi therefore called for stronger national leadership and sustained investment to close the gaps in mental healthcare delivery.
He urged Member States to establish formal and sustainable mechanisms for the participation of people with lived experience in mental health policymaking.
He also called on health professionals, civil society organisations and development partners to support the leadership of affected persons and help bring compassionate, rights-based care closer to communities.
Janabi reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to working with Member States and communities to expand accessible and rights-based mental healthcare throughout Africa.
He maintained that empowering people with lived experience to influence the systems designed to serve them would help drive meaningful and lasting change in mental healthcare across the continent
