According to research by three universities, poor mental health costs the average Ghanaian seven percent of their output.
Only 3% of mental health patients received services from traditional psychiatric settings, according to a study conducted by Yale University, the University of Ghana's Department of Psychiatry, and the Institute of Statistical, Social, and Economic Research (ISSER) of the University of Ghana.
Low access is a result of insufficient infrastructure, stigma, a lack of human resources and training opportunities, and geographic and economic restrictions.
When he officially launched the Mental Health Department building at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra yesterday, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made mention of the figures.
significant advancements
The President stated that in order to address the issues, the government had prioritised mental health and increased spending by more than 200 percent over the previous six years to enable comprehensive care.
Squadron Leader Melody Dankwa, the first Ghanaian military pilot, had bipolar disorder but handled it so successfully that she mixed the illness with flying and taught airforce pilots, including former President J. J. Rawlings. Her accomplishments inspired the Mental Health Department building to bear her name.
It will benefit the whole Korle Bu Teaching Hospital community in addition to the University of Ghana Medical School.
It has a conference room, classrooms for students, faculty research offices, a waiting space for teaching and learning, consultation rooms, therapy rooms, a treatment room, and a conference room.
Act on Mental Health
He said that the 2012-passed Mental Health Act 846 has improved the coordination and effectiveness of mental health treatment, enabling people with mental health disorders to live in their communities with the assistance of their relatives and friends.
The President also emphasised that people with mental illnesses were handled with respect and dignity since the Act placed a strong emphasis on human rights.
Suicide According to President Akufo-Addo, Ghana will decriminalise suicide on March 31, 2023. This is a significant step towards providing mental health services, and it will help reduce stigma, improve access to care, and improve outcomes for people dealing with suicidal thoughts and behaviours in the nation.
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