**5. Recommendations**

Globally, the mental health status of vulnerable persons and clinicians has become more acute during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the targets for effective leadership and governance for mental health, provision of mental health services in communitybased settings, mental health promotion and prevention, and strengthening of information systems, are far from being attained.

The following are recommendations on organizational measures, policies, and systemic changes needed to address the challenges of prevention, treatment, and education of Africans going forwards on their mental health:

a.Preventive and treatment interventions for mental health symptoms;

