The nationwide intermittent shortages of mental health drugs is retarding the recovery process of patients in the Brong-Ahafo Region, investigation by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) has revealed. The shortages of psychiatric medication also worsens the health condition of patients and their rehabilitation. The common illnesses recorded among the patients are psychotic and depressive disorders, … Read more
A total of 16 mentally deranged persons who were chained to trees for years and forced to fast to fast with no or little medical attention have been rescued. Some the victims have been at the unnamed prayer camp at Nyankumasi Ahenkro in the Assin South District of the Central Region for 17 years, most … Read more
play videoMental health care is one of the biggest challenges confronting the Ghanaian health sector In 2012, Ghana passed Mental Health Act 846 but the implementation is still pending with doctor-patient ratio currently 1:1.7 million. Although there is a lack of reliable data regarding the prevalence of mental disorders in the country, the World Health … Read more
On December 31, 2016, a few hours before the New Year, a 28-year-old man allegedly ended his life. Media reports during that period indicated that the young man in his productive years committed the act at Akyem Hemang in the Fanteakwa District of the Eastern Region. Days later, a 14 year-old teenager and a 32-year-old … Read more
Depression is a health condition which is prevalent in Ghana, with four to five out of every 10 persons suffering from the condition, Dr Carnita Groves, a psychologist and professional counsellor, has revealed. “Out of 10, probably four or five people at any given time will be suffering from depression because it is very prevalent,” … Read more
Dr Mumuni Fuseini, Northern Regional Co-ordinator for Mental Health at Health Directorate, has said about 10.1 percent of the world’s population suffer from various mental illnesses. This, he explained, means that one in four people is likely to suffer some form of mental disorder. He said mental illness was high in developing countries including Ghana … Read more
The Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Authority, Dr. Akwesi Osei, has blamed the recent suicide cases in the country to the increase in mental health related cases in the country. He said suicide was a leading cause of death for people seriously affected by mental illness. “One of the topical issues in the … Read more
Depression, also known as clinical depression and major depressive disorder (MDD), is one of the least understood disorders of our time. People have a tendency to disregard what they can’t physically see as an occasional mood-swing or a short-lived bout of despondency, nothing a tub of chocolate ice cream and a good night’s sleep can’t … Read more
Stakeholders in mental health care are worried about the continuous exemption of mental health care from the National Health Insurance Scheme. This, according to the Director of BasicNeeds Ghana, Peter Yaro, impedes on the treatment of mentally challenged persons in Ghana. An estimated 2.4 million Ghanaians suffer from mental illness. The World Health Organization (WHO) … Read more
Older adults make important contributions to society as family members, volunteers and active participants in the workforce. The elderly are also known as the aged. While most have good mental health, many older adults are at risk of developing mental disorders, neurological disorders or substance use problems as well as other health conditions such as … Read more
Imagine falling into a sound sleep, when suddenly you wake up and you can’t move a muscle. Sounds frightening! But it’s an experience that many people have at some point in their lives. This weird phenomenon is known as sleep paralysis, where an individual cannot move, speak or react for a brief moment when falling … Read more
In this report, Odimegwu Onwumere writes that a compassionate Nigerian rescued an insane young lady from the Abuja streets recently and admitted her to a hospital; while the Nigerian winks that many of the lady’s ilks are abandoned to their fate in the streets If not for Dr. Ray Ugba Morphy, a media expert from … Read more
A GNA feature by Dennis Peprah Mental illness, according to medicine, is a chronic disorder diagnosed, most often by a psychiatrist, of a behavioral or mental pattern that may cause suffering, or poor ability to function in life. Such features may be persistent, relapsing and remitting, or occur as a single episode. Many disorders have … Read more
Dr. Akwasi Osei, Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Authority has revealed that more that 2.3 million of Ghana’s population is suffering from various mental challenges. He observes that the number constitutes approximately 10% of the country’s population indicating that the situation is worse especially with latest findings suggesting an increase in the number … Read more
The euphoria, enthusiasm and joy with which the passage of the Mental Health Act (Act 846) came with, somewhere in March 2012 have evaporated into thin air like morning dew beyond the immediate cognisance of the mind. The ambience of excitement on the 2nd of March 2012 is a dream never fulfilled and the hope … Read more
Mental health authorities in the Brong Ahafo Region have expressed worry over the rising number of mental health patients roaming the streets in the region, especially its capital. Over 600 mental patients are said to be on streets of the region. The figure has gone up from the initial four hundred recorded last year. Speaking … Read more