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Mental health, Ghana’s transformation depends on it!

The Minister of Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, recently said in Parliament that 10 per cent of the population of Ghana, representing 10 out of every 100 persons, or 3.1 million Ghanaians out of the estimated 31 million population, have a form of mental illness.

The cost to the country is estimated at seven per cent of GDP.

According to the health minister, persons suffering from mental health conditions were in the categories of: those in treatment facilities, those in traditional/faith healing centres and those in houses or organisations, whose conditions had not been recognised as such.

Additionally, he said it had been clearly established that 41 per cent of Ghanaians had psychological distress, mild, moderate or severe.

It is commendable that the ministry has established the nature of mental health in the country and the numbers suffering from the condition.

That goes a long way in the mobilisation of resources and logistics to support the effort to integrate mental health in the general healthcare delivery across the country.

It is also good that the government plans to construct mental health facilities in the northern and middle belts.

The mental health of every Ghanaian is so critical. Mental health affects how we think, feel or act.

The impact of mental health is great; it is not only felt by those suffering from the condition, but also by family members and society at large.

In our part of the world where everything is given a superstitious interpretation, those suffering from mental health are castigated, condemned and judged.

They become outcasts, roaming our streets, highways and communities, because families and societies have rejected them.

Indeed, it is unfortunate that the country is now getting psychiatric facilities for the northern and middle belt, several years after independence.

All is not lost, though. We know the challenge, as the health minister has stated. It is now time to act to change the narrative of mental health in Ghana.

The Ministry of Health has begun by making it possible for the treatment of mental health to be integrated into the general health delivery for common illnesses like malaria in all public hospitals.

That will ensure that mental health delivery is accessible.

The building of two psychiatric facilities are also steps in the right direction to extend support and care to brothers and sisters in those areas suffering from the condition.

The Daily Graphic believes that further steps are required for the integration of mental health care into family support systems in the country.

Stories abound about recovered mental health patients being abandoned by their families at the Pantang Psychiatric Hospitl, Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital and the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.

Superstitious beliefs, a lack of understanding and fear of being maligned are the causes of families abandoning their loved ones at institutions.
Perhaps, sensitisation to the condition, nationwide, must be factored into efforts to ensure that those suffering from the condition are not disowned by their own.

Section 54 to 63 of the Mental Health Act 2021 (Act 846) has various provisions on the rights of those with mental health conditions.

They must not be discriminated against and all rights must be accorded them.

Section 55 (1) states: (1) A person with mental disorder has the right to enjoy a decent life as normal and as full as possible which include, the right to education,vocational training, leisure, recreational activities, full employment and participation in civil, economic, social, cultural and political activities and any specific limitations on these rights shall be in accordance with an assessment of capacity.

Unfortunately, all these very good provisions in the Act are yet to be realised by those with the condition. Also yet to materialise is the fund for Mental Health prescribed by the Act.

The Daily Graphic hopes that the Mental Health Levy that the minister spoke about in Parliament will be operationalised to serve as one of the sources for the fund.

We cannot gloss over a very serious situation where it is estimated that 10 out of 100 citizens are suffering from one form of mental condition. This is a call for action now!

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