MEMHREP shakes the UK and Ghana on World Mental Health Day 2017

For the past six years, Mensah Mental Health Rehabilitation Programme (MEMHREP) has not relented in its efforts in creating awareness of mental health issues and supporting mental health patients.

This has been done hrough newspaper publications, visitations to radio and TV stations, fundraising activities, physical engagement and donation of food, clothes, etc, to people suffering from mental illness in Ghana and the United Kingdom

For instance, prior to the World Mental Health Day this year, MEMHREP, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) based in Ghana and the UK made its presence felt in the Leeds - UK. In a collaboration with renowned artistes such as Mary Osei Sekyere, Dina Larbi, Ruth Razzi, as well as health personnel and Religious Groups, MEMHREP organised a mental health awareness and live dance concert at Holbeck Working Men’s Club on the 23rd of September 2017.

The participants included Welsh, Nigerians, Ghanaians, Kenyans, Sierra Leoneans, and Americans. Other dignitaries were includes Joan Hutchinson (a Healthcare Specialist from HFH London), Rev. Jude Ezika (Legal Practitioner), Mr George Asomaning (Legal Practitioner), Ms Doreen Koroma (Mental Health Specialist), Mr. Ibrahim Mumin (Social Worker & Islamic Official), Mr. George Hagan (Secretary, New Patriotic Party –Leeds) and Mrs. Irene Ponu-Brenyah, the first grandchild of the late Chief SD Dombo.

The theme for the event was; "Mental Health at the Workplace" and speakers gave an insight into the relevance of mental health in the 21st century and how to galvanise support for the mentally-ill persons in the UK and Ghana.

Joan Hutchinson - the renowned healthcare specialist argued that, support for mental health should not be delayed since the problem affects how people think, feel and act. To her, human beings could reach their full potentials when they are mentally sound.

At the end of the programme, participants expressed their readiness to join the crusade in bringing the plight of mental health patients to the bare since any human being is a potential victim. In Kumasi - Ghana, series of activities were undertaken by members of MEMHREP on Mental Health Day (10th October, 2017) to enlighten Ghanaians to do away with stigmization and offer a hand of support to people suffering from mental health problems.

It is the hope of MEMREP that individuals, corporate institutions, NGOs and the government would support MEMHREP in its quest to bring mental health challenges to the barest minimum and to offer genuine care and support to those affected. These human beings who through no fault of theirs, have stretched out, and it is now our responsibility to reach out to control the situation.

Mr. Adu Gyamfi, the founder of MEMHREP, enumerated a number of achievements of the NGO and the programmes lined up in Ghana in November this year. These included the construction of Rehabilitation Centre, a clinic (all in progress) and regular provision of food items and clothes to the victims roaming on the street. He appealed for material and financial support for mental health patients which could be channelled through the following local and international MEMHREP accounts:

• CAL Bank, Kumasi Kejetia Branch. Account name: MEMHREP. Account No: 151017809014. Ghana

• Santander Banking UK Plc

S/Code: 09-01-28

A/No: 21027409

Account Name: MEMHREP

(UK)

• Bank Identifier Code(BIC): ABBYGB2LXXX INternational

Bank Account Number(IBAN):GB71ABBY09012821027409 (Outside UK)