​Over 50% of persons with mental health disorders are under 35 - MHA

Deputy Director of Health Promotion at the Mental Health Authority, Dr Yaw Amankwa Arthur, has expressed worry over the surge in mental health cases in the country, describing the trend as worrying.

Speaking in an interview on JoyPrime on April 28, 2026, he disclosed that available data shows persons between the ages of 1 and 34 years account for more than 50 percent of reported cases.

"Persons between the ages of one to 34, constitute more than 50%. That is over 40,000 people experiencing mental health problems. And these are mental disorders that they have reported and it's documented", he noted.

Dr Arthur further stated that the actual number of mental health cases may even be higher than what has been officially documented, as many cases are not reported.

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He explained that the situation is troubling, considering the potential social and economic contributions of the affected persons.

"...it's more than that, So it's quite worrying. It's quite worrying, because if you think about how much these people could have contributed to one themselves, to their families, to the community and to the country, it's quite disturbing.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines mental health as a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.

It emphasies the importance of mental health as a basic human right and a universal human right, and it is an essential foundation of human development.

JKB/VPO

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