In Senegal, the notable increase in homicides raises the question of mental health and its impact on public security. This problem is highlighted following the analysis of the Senegalese Association for Monitoring and Assistance to the Mentally Ill (ASSAMM), led by Ansoumana Dione.
In a press release published on Monday January 6, Ansoumana Dione emphasizes that “this is not a security problem that our police or gendarmerie forces can resolve, but rather a question of mental health. » He thus calls on the Ministry of Health and Social Action on the importance of strengthening psychiatric services in regional health structures. The absence of these services, combined with the lack of specialized personnel, the high cost of care and the inaccessibility of psychotropic medications, would, according to him, be directly linked to the increase in violent acts perpetrated by people struggling with mental disorders.
To counter this worrying trend, Ansoumana Dione urges the authorities to put in place an effective policy aimed at improving the care of the mentally ill, thus contributing to the prevention of such tragedies in the future. This request takes place in a context where the growing attention of the public and the media, as reported by our colleagues at Kawtef, highlights the need for an adapted response by the public authorities.
The report, relayed by Kawtef, highlights that without rapid intervention, the situation could continue to deteriorate, aggravated by already existing social and economic problems.
Senegal
