Mental, neurological and substance use disorders account for more than 10% of the global disease burden. The lost productivity resulting from depression and anxiety, two of the most common mental disorders, cost the global economy US$ 1 trillion each year. In low- and middle-income countries, more than 75% of people with mental disorders receive no treatment at all for their disorder.
In Ghana, there have been efforts by the government to
improve mental healthcare services at all levels. However, significant gaps
remained, with only about 2% of Ghana’s 2.3 million people living with mental
health conditions receiving psychiatric treatment and support from health
facilities according to WHO.
To help countries like Ghana address the gaps in mental
health, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the Director General’s
Special Initiative for Mental Health (DG-SIMH) with the vision to ensure that
all people in the target population in the selected countries achieve the
highest standard of mental health and well-being.
The five-year initiative supported by the Government of
Norway seeks to get 100 million more people to access quality and affordable
mental health in 12 countries around the world.
Ahead of the implementation in Ghana, WHO has helped Ghana
to develop a national implementation plan and is currently assisting the
country’s six new regions in the development of their regional plans towards
effective implementation.
“We recognize the important role of stakeholders in the
implementation of this initiative”, said the WHO Noncommunicable Diseases &
Risk Factors Officer in Ghana, Dr. Joana Ansong at the inception meeting for
the initiative in the Western North Region of Ghana. “That is why we want the
regions to map out their implementation strategies so they can own the process
and strengthen partnerships to achieve universal health coverage for mental
health”.
Ghana launched the initiative in July 2022 and is expected
to start implementation in the third quarter of 2022 and will span five years,
with the aim to improve access to integrated quality person-centred mental
health care for an additional 5.2 million Ghanaians.
The WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health will advance
mental health policies, advocacy and human rights, and scale up quality
interventions and services for individuals with mental health conditions,
including substance use and neurological disorders.
For health authorities in Ghana, this initiative is a great
opportunity to strengthen the mental health system whilst mobilizing
communities to create an environment devoid of stigma and abuse against persons
with mental health conditions.
“We need to create an environment that is conducive enough
for people with mental disorders to come out and seek help at any level of the
health system”, said the Western North Regional Director of Health, Dr. Marion
Okoh-Owusu “This special initiative is an opportunity for us to redefine mental
healthcare in Ghana”.
Indeed, whilst expressing profound gratitude for the WHO
Special Initiative on Mental Health, Kyidomhene of Sefwi Wiawso Traditional
Area, Nana Elluo panyin III underscored the critical role traditional leaders
can play to help improve mental health service delivery in Ghana.
“We need to deepen collaboration between health authorities
and traditional leaders to strengthen mechanisms towards the protection of
people with mental health conditions”, added Nana Elluo panyin III.
The WHO Special Initiative on Mental Health will build on
the successes of other mental health interventions such as the QualityRights
Initiative, which is helping to improve the quality of care and promote the
human rights of people living with mental health conditions.
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