Lesotho Faces Growing Mental Health Crisis Despite New Policy and Strategic Plan

Lesotho continues to struggle with escalating mental health issues, despite the government’s approval of a new Mental Health Policy and Strategic Plan (2023-2027). Launched at the end of 2024, the policy aims to align with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) urgent call for global mental health system transformation. However, despite these initiatives, Lesotho’s mental health services are still overwhelmed, leaving a significant portion of the population without proper care.

The Scope of the Mental Health Crisis in Lesotho

According to the new Mental Health Policy, nearly 431,000 out of Lesotho’s population of 2.2 million people suffer from some form of mental illness. The numbers reflect a growing crisis that has put immense pressure on the country’s only psychiatric hospital, Mohlomi Hospital.

Mohlomi, which serves as the sole facility for mental health care in the country, is struggling to meet the needs of its patients. Public Relations Officer Maholi Ramahlele described the hospital’s conditions as dire. The building itself is deteriorating, with ceilings on the brink of collapse and walls unable to support the hospital’s increasing demand.

Moreover, Mohlomi’s overcrowding is a significant issue. As of now, the facility is housing 62 patients with mental health complications, including 33 males, 25 of whom are drug addicts, and 26 females, with only two being drug addicts. The forensic department is particularly overcrowded, holding 80 patients in a space designed for just 34 beds. Many patients are forced to sleep on mattresses due to the lack of space.

The Shortage of Mental Health Professionals

One of the most pressing challenges facing Lesotho is a critical shortage of mental health professionals. According to Ramahlele, each of the country’s ten districts only has one psychiatric nurse, and the country relies on a single foreign psychiatrist who only arrived in Lesotho two months ago. This shortage of specialists has left many patients in limbo, particularly those with complicated mental health issues who cannot be released due to the scarcity of psychiatrists.

The lack of mental health professionals, combined with insufficient infrastructure, has led to a backlog of cases. Ramahlele mentioned that many patients, including those battling addiction, have been kept in the hospital for extended periods due to the lack of qualified staff.

The Mental Health Policy and Its Slow Progress

While the new Mental Health Policy and Strategic Plan, approved by the government in 2024, lays out several key initiatives to address these challenges, the implementation of these provisions has been slow. Ramahlele pointed out that one of the main goals—deploying at least two psychiatric nurses per district and training general doctors to handle mental health cases—has not yet been realized. Additionally, Lesotho continues to operate under its outdated 1964 Mental Health Law, with proposed amendments still sitting in Parliament.

Health Minister Selibe Mochoboroane, speaking at the 2024 Mental Health Day commemoration, acknowledged the issues at Mohlomi Hospital and expressed hope that a new mental health facility would be built. However, as of now, no significant progress has been made on this front.

Plans for a New Facility

In response to the ongoing challenges at Mohlomi, the Ministry of Health is working on plans to build a new mental health hospital and a dedicated rehabilitation center. Principal Secretary ‘Maneo Ntene confirmed that these plans are underway, though implementation has been slow due to financial constraints. Ntene also stressed the importance of creating job opportunities for the youth, as drug abuse is a significant driver of mental health issues in Lesotho.

Alignment with WHO Guidelines

Lesotho’s efforts to reform its mental health system align with the WHO’s recently launched guidelines on mental health, which emphasize the need for countries to strengthen their mental health policies. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a statement made in March 2025, highlighted the global underfunding of mental health care and the lack of accessibility to effective prevention and treatment interventions.

“While effective prevention and treatment interventions exist, most people with mental health conditions do not have access to them,” Dr. Ghebreyesus said. The WHO guidelines aim to close these gaps by ensuring that mental health services are adequately funded, accessible, and responsive to the needs of those with lived experience.

A Call for Urgent Action

The mental health situation in Lesotho remains critical, with the government facing mounting pressure to implement the new policy and address the issues at Mohlomi Hospital. The lack of proper facilities, a shortage of mental health professionals, and outdated laws have left many Basotho without the care they urgently need.

As Lesotho continues to grapple with its mental health crisis, the government’s commitment to reform remains uncertain. However, the global call for transformation in mental health systems, as outlined by the WHO, offers hope that changes will be made to ensure that those affected by mental health issues in Lesotho receive the care and support they deserve.