Promoting Mental Health in Senegal: ECOWAS and Gaston Berger University in Saint-Louis Collaborate to Strengthen Human Capital.
By Raymond Enoch.
Mental health has continued to be one of the critical social health matters that humanity has continued to grapple with. In an era where psychological well-being is increasingly recognized as integral to societal progress, regional efforts to confront mental health challenges are gaining momentum across West Africa.
In a groundbreaking initiative, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in collaboration with Gaston Berger University in Saint-Louis, Senegal, launched a robust mental health awareness campaign on the 9th and 10th of October 2025. The event, held in commemoration of World Mental Health Day, signals a powerful commitment to embedding mental well-being into the framework of human capital development.
The launch was presided over by Ambassador Zelma Nobre Fassinou, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Senegal, and was backed by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO). The initiative aimed to sensitise university students, academic staff, and the wider community on the vital role that mental health plays in educational success, personal resilience, and social inclusion.
“Mental health is not a luxury. It is a right, and a necessity for building a prosperous, inclusive, and innovative West Africa,” Ambassador Fassinou remarked during her address, drawing strong applause from participants.
This collaborative effort underscores ECOWAS’ broader strategy of fostering holistic development by placing citizen well-being at the heart of policy and educational systems. The event drew wide participation from health and academic authorities, mental health professionals, and members of the ECOWAS Club at the university — reflecting the growing regional momentum to tackle mental health with urgency and clarity.
Key sessions included panel discussions on the psychological challenges facing youth, resilience in academic settings, and access to mental health services across the ECOWAS region. Students were actively engaged in workshops, mental health screenings, and interactive forums designed to break stigma and promote open dialogue.
Through this landmark partnership, ECOWAS is not only strengthening the mental health narrative within higher education but also laying the groundwork for long-term regional strategies that aim to build resilient, empowered, and mentally healthy generations.
As the world marked World Mental Health Day 2025, this initiative in Saint-Louis stood as a beacon of what regional solidarity and academic cooperation can achieve — a united front to protect, promote, and prioritize mental health as a cornerstone of sustainable human capital.
