ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the ways Sierra Leone and other countries in the post-conflict situations currently support people experiencing distress. The chapter considers the current mental health service provision in Sierra Leone and other African countries. The Sierra Leone Mental Health Policy (SLMHP) reported that, at this point in time, there was one retired consultant psychiatrist, one medical officer one, two trained psychiatric nurses, limited substance abuse treatment and no capacity for community follow-up services or specialized therapy. In 2013, it was reported that the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRC-SL) noted grave concern about the status of patients and caregivers at Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital (SLPH). The chapter concludes by considering what would be best practice. Before returning to the dilemmas inherent within this question, the reality of the existing provision of mental health services in Sierra Leone and beyond will be examined.
