If you live in Senegal, you have probably met homeless people on the street who might seem a little strange to you; Perhaps they were constantly laughing, or giving a speech, or even throwing rocks at pedestrians. In any case, I'm pretty sure your reaction was to run away from them, just like I would have done; Also, perhaps by chance you have come across a case of suicide or suicide attempt in your family, circle of friends or in the media. And you've probably noticed an increase in crime in Senegal. Why do all these things happen? What could be the possible solutions? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay According to Ansoumana Dione, Senegal was previously one of the most qualified countries in Africa in treating mental illnesses, but is now one of the lowest ranked countries. Firstly, it is because the government does not really support this field of medicine. There is a lack of investments, therefore there is a lack of institutions; Furthermore, mental illnesses are underestimated and poorly perceived by Senegalese people. The most minimized ones are depression and anxiety according to Dr. Aïda Sylla. Someone would suffer from depression and not ask for help. Because if they did, there would be a high probability that they would be laughed at or told to "mun (resign in Wolof) because life is hard for everyone." People who suffer from mental illness probably struggle with this problem themselves, fearing being judged or alienated because they feel pressured by society's mentality. The only time they consult a specialist is when they reach a critical stage and are taken to hospital by their loved ones. But would you believe me if I told you that there are cases where they are not taken to the hospital but to a traditional doctor because unfortunately the family thinks it is a mystical matter, not knowing that they are preventing the patient from getting convenient and adequate support. Let me tell you that the situation is getting worse and worse. Because patients do not receive adequate care, the number of suicides, murders, conflicts and mentally unstable homeless people has increased. To me, this neglect is paradoxical since recent studies conducted by Dione and his team have shown that approximately eighty percent of the population suffers from a mental illness in some way. Isn't that shocking? Fortunately, according to enqueteplus. com, Senegal's health office is working towards better treatment of these psychological problems and has designed two guidelines that they believe, if followed, can make a difference. One of them is to let all healthcare workers know how to identify the early symptoms of any mental problem, so that patients can receive timely treatment and subsequently social support from the government. I think it's a good idea to do this. It would also be great to try and change the mindset of people here regarding mental health. We must know that running away from these people or ignoring them would be adding insult to injury. It only makes their condition worse. Instead, we should help them, directly or indirectly. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom article from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay The topic of mental health is a hot potato within Senegalese society. It is often contested, but the situation does not improve. A saying goes: I quote “Actions speak louder than words”; Therefore, to eradicate this odious situation we must act rather than always speculate.