Ghana has taken a significant step to address a long-standing gap in its health system with the official launch of the Maternal Mental Health Policy (MMHP). Led by the Mental Health Authority in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and key national stakeholders, the policy was launched alongside the dissemination of findings from a Maternal Mental Health Pilot Project implemented across five regions, with funding support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UKFCDO).
The launch brought together government officials, development partners, health professionals, academia, civil society, and the media, reflecting growing recognition of maternal mental health as a critical but often overlooked component of maternal and child health.
This gap is evident in the realities many women face. For every 10 women who give birth in Ghana, almost all do not receive any form of mental health care. As a result, conditions such as anxiety and depression often go undetected and untreated, with limited integration of mental health services into routine maternal care.
The new policy directly responds to this need by providing a framework to integrate mental health into maternal and child health services at all levels of care.
Speaking at the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Authority, Dr Eugene Dordoye, emphasized the importance of the policy in addressing this challenge.
“This Maternal Mental Health Policy comes to break the silence, close the gap, and ensure every mother gets the support she deserves,” he said.
The policy is informed by lessons from a pilot project conducted in five regions, which tested approaches such as early screening, community-based support, and the integration of mental health into existing maternal health services. Findings from the pilot helped shape a more practical and context-specific national response.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the WHO Representative to Ghana, Dr Sofonias Asrat highlighted the broader impact of maternal mental health on families and national development.
“Maternal mental health is the foundation of healthy families. Safeguarding the emotional well-being of the mother, therefore, translates into safeguarding the future of Ghana”, he noted.
Parliament also expressed commitment to ensuring the policy delivers results.
“We will exercise our oversight to ensure every cedi allocated to maternal mental health is used effectively. We want to see results in the reduction of maternal distress and improvement of child development outcomes”, said Dr Titus Kofi Beyuo, Member of Parliament for Lambussie Constituency.
Development partners reiterated the importance of sustained investment to support implementation.
“Investing in maternal mental health is not a cost. It is a high-return investment in productivity, child development and Ghana’s wider ambition for health sovereignty”, said Terri Sarch, Development Director at UKFCDO.
With the policy now launched, the focus shifts to implementation—ensuring that maternal mental health services are fully integrated into routine care and accessible to women across the country.