“We still have steps to move,” Arama said on Thursday during a mental health panel discussion at Scenius Hub in Juba. He noted that while the government and its partners have shown increasing commitment to scaling mental health services, the country remains far from meeting the needs of affected populations.
The event, co-funded by the European Union and German cooperation, focused on mental health as a foundation for a stable and functioning society.
Kockedhia Mabior, founder of Lucy Future, said the country’s mental health situation remains low but not stagnant. She pointed to the launch of a national mental health strategy as a significant milestone.
“With the state of mental health in South Sudan, we cannot say it is at zero because, as we all know, the mental health strategy was launched. That is a major step for South Sudan,” she said.
Akoc Aduk, Director of Rival Wellness Centre, said the 2025–2029 Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Strategy—the first of its kind in the country—will help guide stronger interventions and pave the way for the establishment of a Mental Health Act.
“At the level of decision-makers, there is a process in motion,” Aduk said.
However, he cautioned that critical gaps persist. South Sudan currently has only four psychiatrists and 24 psychologists serving the entire population. He added that the government has yet to allocate a specific budget dedicated to mental health, despite finally recognising it as a national challenge.
Aduk stressed that addressing the human resource gap and securing adequate funding will be key to turning the strategy into meaningful progress.
