124-Year-Old Lunacy Act Faces Replacement as Demby Pushes Mental Health Bill
Theresa Manneh
Minister of Health, Dr Austin Demby, has called on Parliament to urgently pass the Mental Health Bill, 2026, which seeks to replace Sierra Leone’s 124-year-old Lunacy Act of 1902 with a modern legal framework for mental health care.
Presenting the case for the proposed legislation before Parliament, Dr Demby described the bill as a major step towards reforming the country’s mental health system, protecting the rights of people living with mental health conditions and ensuring they receive appropriate care and support.
He highlighted that Sierra Leone’s mental health legal framework has remained largely governed by the Lunacy Act of 1902, a colonial-era law that no longer reflects modern standards of mental health treatment, human rights and patient protection.
The Health Minister also raised concerns about the growing burden of mental health challenges and substance abuse across the country, particularly among young people affected by the kush crisis. He noted that many families continue to struggle privately to care for relatives experiencing mental health conditions, often without adequate institutional support.
Dr Demby stressed the need for a change in how society responds to mental illness, calling for greater understanding, access to treatment and protection from discrimination and stigma.
The proposed Mental Health Bill, 2026, is designed to establish a more progressive system that places compassion, human dignity and access to quality mental health services at the centre of care. It is also expected to provide stronger protections for vulnerable individuals who have historically experienced neglect, discrimination and social exclusion.
A key provision of the bill is the establishment of a National Mental Health Directorate, which would be responsible for coordinating mental health services across Sierra Leone. The proposed Directorate would operate under the oversight of an independent Board, creating an institutional structure intended to strengthen accountability, coordination and service delivery.
Dr Demby’s appeal to Parliament comes amid growing concerns about mental health challenges and substance use disorders, particularly among young people, highlighting the need for a stronger national response.
If passed, the legislation would mark a significant shift from the country’s colonial-era mental health law towards a framework that reflects contemporary approaches to treatment, patient rights and mental health service delivery.