There is not a formal legal system of hospitalisation or forced hospitalization (without consent of the patient) in Benin. Rather, patients are generally accompanied to consultation by their families who ask for their hospitalisation. When hospitalisation is requested by the doctor, the family’s consent is required and it is generally accorded.
In Bénin, despite training specialists in mental health since 1985, levels remain low due to the length of training, and because there is little interest in this specialty, due to stigma.
The assessment revealed that there are 4 community-based psychiatric units and 4 mental hospitals (1 public and 3 private) in Benin. There are no separate outpatients facilities in the country, however outpatients care is provided in general and mental hospitals.
Mental health professionals and mental health services are especially limited for children and adolescents and people who do not live in the capital city. Also, primary care providers have little training in mental health and there are no protocols for how to treat or refer people with mental disorders.
Non-doctor and non-nurse primary health care workers are not allowed to prescribe psychotropic drugs, whereas nurses are allowed to prescribe only in emergency situations or by derogation. Physicians in primary health care are allowed to prescribe drugs without restriction. The medical clinics however, often do not have psychotropic drugs available.