Afrigather Dambai, Ghana – When Kwabena Asare*, 32 from Bodada in Ghana’s Oti area developed a psychological well being situation in 2018, he sought assist from the well being centre and obtained treatment and assist, which helps him to get better.
Nevertheless, he’s involved that the shortage of assist from household and buddies is undermining his restoration efforts.
“My household don’t supply me assist as a result of they don’t perceive my situation,” says Asare at a individuals residing with psychological well being situation discussion board on the Bodada group centre, “Nobody listens to me even when I attempt to clarify my challenges as a result of they see me as a ‘mad man’ who ought to be ignored”.
Household and group participation has lengthy been recognized as a key factor within the efforts to enhance psychological healthcare and put individuals with psychological well being circumstances on the trail to restoration.
As a part of actions to mark 2023 World Psychological Well being Day celebration, the World Well being Group(WHO) and the UK Overseas, Commonwealth and Growth Workplace(FCDO) supported the Psychological Well being Authority and the Ghana Well being Service to prepare a group engagement discussion board to hearken to communities and other people with psychological well being circumstances on methods to enhance psychological healthcare.
“The significance of household and group shouldn’t be solely to look after individuals with psychological well being circumstances but in addition breaking the stigma,” famous the WHO Consultant to Ghana, Prof Francis Kasolo as he led the World Psychological Well being Day actions within the Oti area. “Allow us to all decide to work collectively to deepen the worth we afford to psychological well being and to reshape the environments that negatively affect the wellbeing of our individuals”.
The Psychological Well being Authority believes a robust psychological well being system will solely be efficient when communities play a supportive position within the lives of individuals with psychological well being circumstances.
“Involving communities within the therapy of individuals with psychological well being circumstances will enhance therapy outcomes and subsequent integration into communities,” says the Chief Government of the Psychological Well being Authority, Prof Adwoa Pinaman Appau.
Along with the group engagements, a nationwide World Psychological Well being Day durbar was organized within the Oti area with the goal of making consciousness and mobilizing communities to assist the psychological well being agenda.
In her remarks, the Well being Advisor for UK-FCDO in Ghana, Uzoamaka Gilpin pledged the assist of the UK to Ghana’s psychological well being agenda.
“Psychological well being is as essential as bodily well being. The UK Authorities will proceed to stroll with Ghana on the journey to enhancing psychological healthcare,” she added.
The 2023 World Psychological Well being Day was characterised by psychological well being screening and assist, group engagements and boards for college students and academics within the Oti area.
*Title modified to guard identification
