About LGBTQ+
LGBTQ+ affirmative professionals offer a safe, respectful space to explore identity, relationships, coming out, minority stress or discrimination, without pathologising sexual orientation or gender identity.
Sexologists help with sexual difficulties, desire, communication about sexuality, and sexual and gender identity, individually or as a couple, in a respectful and confidential setting.
Getting mental health care in Mali
Public health system · Public health system - Psychiatry department, CHU du Point G (Bamako)
The psychiatry department of the CHU du Point G in Bamako is the main public mental health service in Mali, with about 130 beds, outpatient consultations three days a week and a daily emergency duty service. Specialist care outside Bamako is scarce; some rural general practitioners have been trained in mental health, and traditional healers are often the first point of contact.
How to check that a professional is licensed
- Ordre des Médecins du Mali. The Order, created by Law No. 2017-030 of 14 July 2017, groups all physicians practising in Mali, including psychiatrists. Ask the doctor for proof of registration with the Order.
Urgent help in Mali
If your life or someone else's is in danger, call the emergency number now. These services can help at any time:
- 17 · Police secours
Information reviewed in November 2026 · Sources: panafrican-med-journal.com, panafrican-med-journal.com, extranet.who.int
Signs to look out for
Being LGBTQ+ is not a mental health problem. However, discrimination, rejection, hiding who you are or living in an unsupportive environment can create stress that affects well-being. It may help to seek support if you feel anxious or low, isolated, unsafe, conflicted about your identity, struggling with coming out, facing family rejection, or affected by harassment or violence.
What helps: treatments and professionals
Look for affirmative therapy: psychologists, psychotherapists and other professionals who respect your identity and have training in sexual and gender diversity. Evidence-based approaches such as cognitive-behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and family therapy can be adapted to address minority stress. So-called conversion therapies are harmful and rejected by professional bodies. Peer and community groups can complement professional support.
When to seek urgent help
If you are in immediate danger, have been assaulted, or are being threatened because of your identity, contact your local emergency services. Seek urgent help too if you have thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or if you have been thrown out of your home and have nowhere safe to go. Specialised LGBTQ+ organisations in many places can offer support and guidance.
What you can do in the meantime
Connect with people and spaces where you can be yourself, whether friends, community groups or trusted online communities. You decide when, how and to whom you come out; your safety comes first. Look for reliable, affirming information sources. Look after sleep, movement and routines, and limit exposure to hostile content online. Ask potential therapists directly about their experience with LGBTQ+ clients.
What does a sex therapist do?
A sex therapist helps individuals and couples with concerns about sexuality in a respectful, confidential space. Day to day they talk about desire, arousal, pain, orgasm, sexual communication, body image, identity and orientation, and the impact of illness, ageing or past experiences. They use psychoeducation, talking therapy and practical exercises, and coordinate with doctors when a physical cause needs to be checked.
When to see a sex therapist
Seeing a sex therapist makes sense when a sexual difficulty causes distress or tension, when desire differs a lot within a couple, when there is pain or anxiety around sex, after illness, childbirth or menopause, or when you have questions about identity or orientation. A medical check-up is advisable first for pain or sudden changes; trauma may need trauma-focused therapy.
How to choose
When choosing, check the licence and training, the approach they use and whether they have experience with what you need. Consider practical aspects too: language, price, location or online sessions and availability. The relationship with the professional matters a great deal; if after a few sessions it does not feel right, it is fine to change.
Frequently asked questions
Does the public health system in Mali cover psychological care?
The psychiatry department of the CHU du Point G in Bamako is the main public mental health service in Mali, with about 130 beds, outpatient consultations three days a week and a daily emergency duty service. Specialist care outside Bamako is scarce; some rural general practitioners have been trained in mental health, and traditional healers are often the first point of contact.
How do I check that a sex therapist is licensed in Mali?
Ordre des Médecins du Mali: The Order, created by Law No. 2017-030 of 14 July 2017, groups all physicians practising in Mali, including psychiatrists. Ask the doctor for proof of registration with the Order.