Mr Moses Suonyir Dari, the Wa West District Mental Health Officer, has called on the public to show care and support to persons living with mental health conditions to help them recover and live productive lives.
He said mental illness should be treated like any other form of sickness and not as a punishment, curse, or moral failing, stressing that stigmatisation only worsens the condition of affected persons.
Mr Dari made the call at Meteu in the Wa West District at the weekend during a programme organised by the Innovations for Sustainable Rural Development (ISRuDeV) to mark this year’s World Mental Health Day.
The event, which attracted traditional leaders, healthcare workers, and scores of community members, mostly women, formed part of ISRuDeV’s efforts to promote the health and well-being of rural communities, particularly women and youth groups it worked with.
Mr Dari observed that many people still attributed mental illness to drug abuse or anti-social behaviour such as theft, which influenced their attitudes towards people with mental health disorders.
He added that discrimination and name-calling further worsen the condition of affected persons and hindered their recovery.
He noted that although there were many trained psychiatric nurses in the country ready to provide care and treatment, the lack of essential drugs for mental health remained a major challenge to effective service delivery.
“The problem in Ghana is that policymakers do not put much premium on mental health. The government seems to focus more on physical health than on mental well-being”, the Mental Health Officer stated.
Mr Dari, therefore, appealed to the government to adequately fund mental health programmes and ensure the regular supply of medication at all levels of healthcare delivery.
He also urged stakeholders, including traditional leaders, healthcare professionals, and politicians, to collaborate in providing adequate treatment and care for persons with mental health conditions.
Mr Dari further called on families to desist from inhumane practices such as chaining people with mental health disorders in homes or prayer camps, and said such acts worsened their conditions and violated their human rights.
Mr Anacetus Banakoma, the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District Mental Health Officer, expressed concern about the increasing rate of substance abuse in rural communities, which he said had serious implications for the mental health of users.
He cited instances where some men, women, and youth had resorted to abusing snuff (locally known as inye), with some women reportedly inserting the substance into their private parts for sexual pleasure.
He cautioned that such practices could lead to severe health complications, including mental health disorders and vaginal sores, and urged the public to desist from them.
Mr Maxwell Kpetaah, the Business Development Manager at ISRuDeV, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to promoting mental health awareness and supporting the well-being of rural populations, particularly women and young people.
This year’s World Mental Health Day was commemorated under the global theme: “Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies”.
Source: GNA