THE OVERWHELMING RISE OF MENTAL DISORDERS IN GHANA
Mental disorders are a wide range of conditions that affect the mood, thinking and behavior of individuals. The rate at which mental disorders are increasing in the country is quite alarming.
Although there is lack of reliable data regarding the prevalence of mental disorders, the World Health Organization (WHO, 2007) has estimated that approximately thirteen percent (13%0 of Ghanaians suffer from a mental disorder.
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to identify most people suffering from mental disorders because most often, they do not seek medical attention. People hide because of the stigma attached to mental health issues and in some cases, those suffering from these mental disorders do not realize they are unwell.
From childhood, most people have been verbally, physically, emotionally, psychologically, and even religiously abused and this has in so many ways left scars and affected their behavioral patterns and lifestyle.
Many people carry so much pain and hurt in their hearts. They have not received any form of counselling to enable them heal. Others are also holding on to deep secrets which have turned out to weigh on them, and to this day, they have not had any opportunity to vent it out in order to be released from its burden.
Also, many have tried to hide and put up appearances to meet societal expectations yet, the trauma of childhood, a bad relationship and disappointments in life has affected their thought pattern, hence causing them to behave in an abnormal way.
The ‘madman’ naked on the street, is no longer seen as a threat since surprisingly most murder cases being reported today are being committed by men in suit and tie and women in beautiful gowns. What we do not realize is that there wounds that later develops into mental disorders did not develop in a day. It took months and even years and in order to administer a lifelong solution, it is vital that people are gradually taken through mindset education, therapy and counselling.
A week ago, a man battered his wife to death. The woman had reported the incident and was asked to pray about the issue until she met her untimely death. Another gentleman employed as a teacher had a relapse and behaved abnormally in an institution. When he realized he was going to be sent to the psychiatric hospital, he tried to abscond. He was finally taken to the hospital and to the amazement of everyone present, they were told he was an ex – patient with a history of mental illness.
We desire to have a better Ghana flourishing under efficient policies, guidance and care. We aim to see our beloved country at par with other nations of the world at all standards. Unfortunately, this cannot be attained if we do not work on ourselves and deal with our foundational challenges.
For a better tomorrow and a better Ghana, the government must insist on having guidance and counselling coordinators in all schools, both private and public. These guidance and counselling coordinators must have a timetable for regular assessment of students that may be going through abuse, so that they can receive early intervention.
The government must enforce mental health assessment as a criteria during pre – marital counselling to help prevent or minimize abuse in marriages. Employers must also include mental health assessment as a criteria for consideration during interviews
Day centers must be set up in different communities. Psychiatric doctors and nurses must be put on call during emergencies and guidance and counselling coordinators must be stationed at these Day centers to offer 24 hour services.
Community mental health nurses must be made available to visit mental health patients discharged into the community. This will help them monitor their medications and also assess their wellbeing in order to prevent cases of relapse.
Finally, in order to reach out to everyone and especially those who refuse to seek assistance for traumatic experiences, a day must be set aside in the country as done internationally to celebrate mental health where all employers would be tasked to hold seminars on mental health in their respective work places. This will enable those refusing to seek support to receive medical aid at their work places.
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