Nation needs to invest more in mental health care – Dr. Osei

Dr. Akwasi Osei, Chief Psychiatrist of the Ghana Health Services (GHS), has underlined the need for the nation to up its spending on mental health care to help effectively manage mental illness and other psychiatric disorders.

Ghana, he noted, was lagging behind in terms of adequate mental health personnel and facilities, a situation that made it difficult to make meaningful headway in mental health services.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about three million Ghanaians are living with mental disabilities with about 60,000 of them having very severe mental conditions.

Dr. Osei, who was addressing this year’s World Mental Health Day celebration in Kumasi, said mental disorder in whatever form was a disadvantage to socio-economic development in view of the negative effects on those affected.

The theme for this year’s event was “Depression - a Global Crisis”.

The day is set aside to create awareness about mental health for prompt response by policy-makers.

The Chief Psychiatrist drew attention to the need for the public to avoid stigmatization and discrimination against people with mental disorders.

Dr. Aaron Offei, Ashanti Regional Director of Health, called on government to construct more mental health facilities in the districts to promote mental health care.

He said it was also important to intensify mental health education campaign.