Mental health: WHO demands bigger role for people with lived experience

"Nearly 150 million people across Africa live with mental health, neurological or substance use conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, and alcohol and other substance use disorders." Janabi, RD WHO Africa

The World Health Organisation (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 design of services affecting their lives.

Janabi made the call in his message to mark the 2026 World Mental Health Day, observed under the theme, “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change.”

He said nearly 150 million people across Africa live with mental health, neurological or substance use conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, and alcohol and other substance use disorders.

According to him, despite the scale of the challenge, many affected persons still lack access to the care and support they need, while stigma and discrimination continue to discourage people from seeking help.

Janabi said people directly affected by mental health conditions must be given a stronger voice in shaping policies and services, stressing that their experiences could expose gaps in existing systems and identify forms of assistance that make a meaningful difference.

“Their experience can show us where services fall short, what forms of assistance make a difference, and how care can fully respect people’s dignity and rights,” he said.

The WHO Regional Director stressed that listening to people with lived experience must go beyond collecting personal stories, insisting that they should participate directly in decision-making.

He said: “For too long, individuals have been invited to share their personal stories but excluded from the decisions that follow. Listening must lead to participation.”

Janabi urged governments to involve people with lived experience in developing policies, designing services and strengthening peer-led initiatives, saying their insights, combined with clinical and public health expertise, could make mental healthcare more responsive and accountable.

He disclosed that WHO had already begun creating such opportunities in the African Region, noting that people with lived experience served as key facilitators during the organisation’s Regional Mental Health Webinar Series and Mental Health Intercountry Learning Meetings held in South Africa and Togo.

He said the initiatives were planned and delivered in collaboration with the Pan African Network of People with Psychosocial Disabilities, Aves Mental Health and United for Global Mental Health.

According to him, the approach is also reflected in the recently published Mental Health in Africa Investment Case for the WHO Regional Office for Africa, which advocates stronger community-based services, protection of human rights and sustained involvement of people who use mental health services.

Janabi said integrating mental health into primary healthcare must remain central to efforts to achieve universal health coverage across the continent.

He, however, lamented the significant gaps in mental healthcare delivery, revealing that only seven of the 47 countries in the WHO African Region are currently implementing comprehensive mental health integration into primary care.

He also disclosed that average government spending on mental health in Africa stood at just US$0.07 per person, compared with US$2.69 globally.

The WHO official noted that mental healthcare in many countries remains fragmented or concentrated in major urban centres, leaving millions of people, particularly those in underserved communities, without adequate support close to home.

“Addressing these challenges will require stronger national leadership and increased, sustained financing,” he said.

As part of activities marking World Mental Health Day, Janabi urged Member States to establish formal and sustained mechanisms for the participation of people with lived experience in mental health policy and service development.

He also called on health professionals, civil society organisations and development partners to support the leadership of people with lived experience and help bring compassionate mental healthcare closer to communities.

“As WHO, we are committed to working alongside Member States and communities to expand accessible and rights-based care throughout the Region,” he said.

Janabi added: “Real voices can drive real change. Together, we can build mental health systems with those who use them, and ensure they respond optimally to the lives people lead.”