At a workshop in 2012 in Khartoum, attended by Sudanese psychiatrists based in both the UK and Sudan, as well as psychologists, social workers and lawyers from Sudan and elsewhere, a draft Mental Health Act for Sudan was approved; it is due to be submitted to the Sudanese Parliament. We give a summary of the draft Act and outline some of the areas that need further discussion.

Sudan has endured the longest civil war in the history of Africa. The conflict between the northern (mainly Arab) and southern (mainly sub-Saharan African) populations started in 1983, and in its first phase continued for 22 years. The combination of civil war and famine has taken the lives of nearly 2 million people and displaced an estimated 4 million people from their villages and homes. This paper presents some data on the prevalence of mental disorder and the mental health service response to the situation.