01673nas a2200313   4500000000100000008004100001653001100042653001000053653001800063653001100081653001200092653002100104653001800125653002700143653001200170653001700182100001100199700001600210700001200226700001100238700001600249700001300265245005000278856006900328300001100397490000700408520093000415022001401345       2014                            d10aGambia10aGhana10aGlobal health10aHumans10aLiberia10aMental Disorders10aMental Health10amental health services10aNigeria10aSierra Leone1 aEsan O1 aAbdumalik J1 aEaton J1 aKola L1 aFadahunsi W1 aGureje O00aMental health care in Anglophone West Africa.  uhttp://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/pdf/10.1176/appi.ps.201300300  a1084-70 v653 a<p>This column describes the current state of resources and practice in mental health care in the Anglophone countries of West Africa: the Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, and Liberia. Information was systematically gathered from the five countries by using a standard framework for country situation analysis. Mental health services, which are in various stages of development, are characterized by inadequate human resources and long policy neglect. Despite the low numbers of specialists, the region has made important contributions to community service development and global mental health research. Challenges include manpower development, policy and legislation updates, and increased attention to policy and budget. Although mental health service is still grossly inadequate in the context of human and material constraints, there are slowly evolving signs of positive modernization and service development.</p>
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