“Their human rights should not continue to be violated at homes and the treatment centres” he said.

[contextly_sidebar id=”x14FcIhFYicM4PhzEdfveaYqiUz9cx0V”]Speaking at the annual review conference of the Regional branch of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health held in Wa, he asked that it upped its game.

“Mobilizing communities for increased access and utilization of immunization services, the role CSOs in the Upper West Region” was the theme for the event.

He also expressed concern about the growing cases of teenage pregnancy in the region.

He said it was something that should engage the attention of the Coalition, adding that, the adolescent girls needed to be assisted to make the right decisions and choices.

He applauded it for the good job it was doing to promote access to basic quality healthcare for everybody, irrespective of geographic location, religious persuasion or economic circumstance.

Mr. Issahaku made reference to the theme and said it was both relevant and appropriate amid bacterial and viral infections that had and continued to claim lives across the world.

“In the north, the yearly infections of cerebrospinal meningitis could be reduced with early immunization of the population against the disease.”

He underlined the need for increased awareness creation about the importance of immunization and access to vaccines, especially in rural Ghana.

He described as unfortunate the situation where some people had been refusing to immunize their children because of cultural and religious beliefs.

This he said was hampering efforts by the government to eradicate some childhood killer diseases, including measles.

–

Source: GNA

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Scot Peterson was outside the school when a gunman killed 17 people, but did not go inside as shots rang out.

His attorney, Joseph DiRuzzo, said his client believed the gunfire was coming from outside the school.

He followed his training by taking cover and prompting a lockdown, the lawyer said.

Mr DiRuzzo said it was “patently untrue” that Mr Peterson was a coward on the day.

Mr Peterson, a veteran officer who had been assigned to guard the high school, resigned last week after his boss, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, suspended him without pay.

Sheriff Israel said that footage from the scene had left him “devastated” and “sick to my stomach”.

But Mr DiRuzzo accused the sheriff of “at best, gross oversimplification”, saying he “jumped to a conclusion” about Mr Peterson’s behaviour.

‘Trained to seek cover’

Mr Peterson said he had originally “received a call of firecrackers”.

Only when he ran towards the sound, he said, did he realise it was gunshots.

Broward Sheriff’s Office had trained him to seek cover and assess the situation in the event of outdoor gunfire, his lawyer said. Mr Peterson did so, and then told the sheriff’s office he had heard shots, prompting a “Code Red” lockdown of the school campus.

When police arrived, he told them he thought the gunman was outside – a belief backed up by “radio transmissions [which] indicated that there was a gunshot victim in the area of the football field,” Mr Peterson said.

His lawyer said in a statement: “Let there be no mistake, Mr Peterson wishes that he could have prevented the untimely passing of the 17 victims on that day, and his heart goes out to the families of the victims in their time of need.

“However, the allegations that Mr Peterson was a coward and that his performance, under the circumstances, failed to meet the standards of police officers are patently untrue.”

Trump castigates response

Mr Peterson’s clarification came after the president claimed he would have run into the Florida high school if he had been there, even if he had not been armed.

“I really believe I’d run in there even if I didn’t have a weapon,” Mr Trump told a group of state governors at the White House on Monday.

Mr Trump also said it was “frankly, disgusting” that officers reportedly did not confront the suspect on 14 February.

Broward County Sheriff’s Office is reportedly also investigating why three of its deputies appeared to remain outside the building with their guns drawn as the attack unfolded.

Mr Trump criticised those officers as well, saying they “weren’t exactly medal of honour winners”- a reference to the US military award for valour.

In Florida, students are preparing to return full-time to their classrooms on Wednesday after some attended a volunteer “orientation” on Sunday.

“It’s like the first day of school,” a 16-year-old girl in attendance told the New York Times.

“But it’s not normal at all.”

The massacre was the second-deadliest ever shooting at a US school.

Nikolas Cruz, 19, a former student at the school, has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder. Police have said he admitted the shooting.

In the aftermath of the attack, students from the school have founded a movement campaigning for gun control, which has seen them march on their state capitol.

President Donald Trump has pledged action on mental health and background checks, hosted a listening session with some students and teachers, and called for teachers to be armed with concealed firearms.

–

Source: BBC

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The stakeholders, who included; health workers, Assembly Members, Opinion leaders, Prayer Camp Managers and Traditional Leaders, would contribute to the fight against issues confronting persons with Mental Illness and Epilepsy.

[contextly_sidebar id=”seYPA9rWtE2ENyX6gSl0YDfvt4pQjcjH”]They were given training on how to pay critical attention and offer help to persons with Mental Health disorders and Epilepsy.

The training was aimed at making the them abreast with issues confronting persons with Mental Health Illness and Epilepsy and how they could assist them to seek health care.

Sponsored by UKAID, the training formed part of the numerous initiatives undertaken by Basic Needs-Ghana to promote partnership with the Private Non- Formal Health Services to ensure the quality delivery of Mental Health Services in region.

Basic Needs-Ghana is a mental health and development advocacy organisation that implements and promotes initiatives to transform the lives of people with mental illness or epilepsy by providing access to integrated mental health care, social and economic services in the communities.

Speaking at the programme, Mr Bernard Azuure, the Project Officer of Basic Needs-Ghana, said the rights, issues and wellbeing of Persons with Mental Health and Epilepsy needed a collective effort to tackle and his outfit had organised stakeholders engagement with Municipal and District Assembly staff and Heads of Department in the region.

He explained that the training was to build the capacity of the stakeholders on Basic Psychiatry and Human Rights of Mentally Ill and Epilepsy people adding that with support from the Upper East Regional Health Directorate of the GHS it would promote and improve the practices and behaviours for persons with Mental Health disorder and Epilepsy to exist comfortably.

Mr Azuure said stigmatisation and maltreatment of persons with Mental Illness and Epilepsy was against their rights and entreated stakeholders to collaborate effectively with them and other authorities to deal with the menace.

Taking the stakeholders through the causes, symptoms and how to deal with Mental Health issues, Mr Philip Aboagye, a Psychiatrist Nurse of the Upper East Regional Directorate of the GHS, underscored alcohol and drugs as major causes of mental illness adding, Divorce and stress, were other causes of mental illness and called on all the stakeholders to deal with the problem and help victims of Mental Health disorder and Epilepsy to access health care at health facilities.

–

Source: GNA

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He said mental health cannot be relegated to the background as had been done over the years amid the rising cases of mental disorder.

The Asantehene made the call in a speech read for him at the 59th annual conference of the Ghana Medical Association, underway in Kumasi.

“Mental health in Ghana” is the theme for the four-day meeting.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu asked the government to provide the Mental Health Authority with adequate financial and logistical support to effectively discharge its mandate.

He added that mental health laws and related legislation should be made to work to address mental health problems facing the country.

The King also used the occasion to highlight the need to move quickly to implement the agreed conditions of service for medical doctors.

Working conditions of doctors 

Dr. Akwasi Osei, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Mental Health Authority on his part, identified drug abuse as the major cause of mental disorders, and said between 20-30 per cent of out-patient department (OPD) mental cases, and 8 per cent in-patient admissions were drug-related.

He warned against legalizing marijuana use and said that could be disastrous for the nation’s mental health system.

–

Source: GNA

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Suicide is a serious public health problem; however, suicides are preventable with timely, evidence-based and often low-cost interventions. For national responses to be effective, a comprehensive multi-sectorial suicide prevention strategy is needed

History has is it that in the ancient world people took their own life in response to escape evil, avoid shame, express grief over a tragic death, or avoid capture or dishonor in battle. Overall, however, suicide was condemned. There are six instances of suicide in the Old Testament whiles in the New Testament, the only suicide mentioned is that of Judas Iscariot (Matthew 27:3-5, Acts of the Apostles 1:18-20) who betrayed Jesus and proceeded to hang himself.  Indeed the Bible suggests that this act is shameful.

Apart from the Christian religion all other religion does not approve of suicide as an appropriate means to exit the earth.  The consequences of suicide beyond the fact that almost all religion disapproves of it, are not just that one person is dead, that a precious life has ended. It is also a tragedy of epic proportions for the people left behind.

This notwithstanding World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that every year close to 800 000 people take their own life and there are many more people who attempt suicide. Every suicide is a tragedy that affects families, communities and entire countries and has long-lasting effects on the people left behind. Suicide occurs throughout the lifespan and was the second leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds globally in 2015.

Suicide does not just occur in high-income countries, but is a global phenomenon in all regions of the world. In fact, over 78% of global suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries in 2015.

Interestingly suicide is reported as a major cause of premature mortality worldwide, but data on its epidemiology in Africa, the world’s second most populous continent, are limited. Regional or national suicide incidence data were available for less than one third (16/53) of African countries containing approximately 60% of Africa’s population; suicide attempt data were available for 20% of countries (7/53). Crude estimates suggest there are over 34,000 (inter-quartile range 13,141 to 63,757) suicides per year in Africa, with an overall incidence rate of 3.2 per 100,000 population. The recent Global Burden of Disease (GBD) estimate of 49,558 deaths is somewhat higher, but falls within the inter-quartile range of GBD’s estimate. Suicide rates in men are typically at least three times higher than in women. The most frequently used methods of suicide are hanging and pesticide poisoning. Reported risk factors are similar for suicide and suicide attempts and include interpersonal difficulties, mental and physical health problems, socioeconomic problems and drug and alcohol use/abuse. Qualitative studies are needed to identify additional culturally relevant risk factors and to understand how risk factors may be connected to suicidal behaviour in different socio-cultural contexts.

Ghana records about 1,500 suicide cases annually, the Chief Executive of the Mental Health Authority, Dr. Akwasi Osei, has revealed. This figure constituted about seven per cent loss of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but little attention is paid to suicide cases in the country. The Mental Health Authority Chief notes that, in every single reported case of suicide, there are four unreported case of suicide, this therefore  bring the number of unreported cases to about 6,000 annually.

This is a primitively outrageous statistics which should prompt Ghana to prioritize and mainstreaming issues of mental health much more seriously.

Who is at risk?

While the link between suicide and mental disorders (in particular, depression and alcohol use disorders) is well established in high-income countries, many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis with a breakdown in the ability to deal with life stresses, such as financial problems, relationship break-up or chronic pain and illness.

In addition, experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse, or loss and a sense of isolation are strongly associated with suicidal behaviour. Suicide rates are also high amongst vulnerable groups who experience discrimination, such as refugees and migrants; indigenous peoples; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI) persons; and prisoners. By far the strongest risk factor for suicide is a previous suicide attempt.

Indeed mental health is a complex issue and it’s easy to become confused and unclear about its impact. What is for sure is that everyone’s mental health is important and Ghana as a country should devise comprehensive measures to help anyone who is feeling stigmatized because of poor mental health.

Stigma, particularly surrounding mental disorders and suicide, means many people thinking of taking their own life or who have attempted suicide are not seeking help and are therefore not getting the help they need. The prevention of suicide has not been adequately addressed due to a lack of awareness of suicide as a major public health problem and the taboo in many societies to openly discuss it. To date, only a few countries have included suicide prevention among their health priorities and only 28 countries report having a national suicide prevention strategy.

Raising community awareness and breaking down the taboo is important for Ghana to make progress in preventing suicide.

Methods of suicide

WHO estimates that around 30% of global suicides are due to pesticide self-poisoning, most of which occur in rural agricultural areas in low- and middle-income countries. Other common methods of suicide are hanging and firearms.

Knowledge of the most commonly used suicide methods is important to devise prevention strategies which have shown to be effective, such as restriction of access to means of suicide.

Prevention and control

Suicides are preventable but certainly not what pertains in Ghana’s criminal code of criminalizing suicide. Section 57 Clause 2 of the 1960 Criminal Code of Ghana should therefore be expunged without further delay. Additionally there are a number of measures that can be taken at population, sub-population and individual levels to prevent suicide and suicide attempts. These include:

reducing access to the means of suicide (e.g. pesticides, firearms, certain medications);

reporting by media in a responsible way;

introducing alcohol policies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol;

early identification, treatment and care of people with mental and substance use disorders, chronic pain and acute emotional distress;

training of non-specialized health workers in the assessment and management of suicidal behaviour;

follow-up care for people who attempted suicide and provision of community support.

Suicide is a complex issue and therefore suicide prevention efforts require coordination and collaboration among multiple sectors of society, including the health sector and other sectors such as education, labour, agriculture, business, justice, law, defense, politics, and the media. These efforts must be comprehensive and integrated as no single approach alone can make an impact on an issue as complex as suicide.

–

By:  Jerry Detse Mensah-Pah

The author is an Industrial Relations and Development Practitioner and can be reached on [email protected] or 0243164704

The post Promoting mental health – a way of ending suicides [Article] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Suicide is a serious public health problem; however, suicides are preventable with timely, evidence-based and often low-cost interventions. For national responses to be effective, a comprehensive multi-sectoral suicide prevention strategy is needed.

History has is it that, in the ancient times, people took their own life in response to escape evil, avoid shame, express grief over a tragic death, or avoid capture or dishonor in battle. Overall, however, suicide was condemned. There are six instances of suicide in the Old Testament whiles in the New Testament, the only suicide mentioned is that of Judas Iscariot (Matthew 27:3-5, Acts of the Apostles 1:18-20) who betrayed Jesus and proceeded to hang himself.  Indeed the Bible suggests that this act is shameful.

Apart from the Christian religion, all other religions do not approve of suicide as an appropriate means to exit the earth.  The consequences of suicide beyond the fact that almost all religion disapproves of it, are not just that one person is dead, that a precious life has ended. It is also a tragedy of epic proportions for the people left behind.

This notwithstanding World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that every year close to 800 000 people take their own life and there are many more people who attempt suicide. Every suicide is a tragedy that affects families, communities and entire countries and has long-lasting effects on the people left behind. Suicide occurs throughout the lifespan and was the second leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds globally in 2015.

Suicide does not just occur in high-income countries but is a global phenomenon in all regions of the world. In fact, over 78% of global suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries in 2015.

Interestingly suicide is reported as a major cause of premature mortality worldwide, but data on its epidemiology in Africa, the world’s second most populous continent, are limited.

Regional or national suicide incidence data were available for less than one third (16/53) of African countries containing approximately 60% of Africa’s population; suicide attempt data were available for <20% of countries (7/53).

Crude estimates suggest there are over 34,000 (inter-quartile range 13,141 to 63,757) suicides per year in Africa, with an overall incidence rate of 3.2 per 100,000 population. The recent Global Burden of Disease (GBD) estimate of 49,558 deaths is somewhat higher but falls within the inter-quartile range of GBD’s estimate. Suicide rates in men are typically at least three times higher than in women.

The most frequently used methods of suicide are hanging and pesticide poisoning. Reported risk factors are similar for suicide and suicide attempts and include interpersonal difficulties, mental and physical health problems, socioeconomic problems and drug and alcohol use/abuse.

Qualitative studies are needed to identify additional culturally relevant risk factors and to understand how risk factors may be connected to suicidal behaviour in different socio-cultural contexts.

Ghana records about 1,500 suicide cases annually, the Chief Executive of the Mental Health Authority, Dr. Akwasi Osei, has revealed. This figure constituted about seven per cent loss of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but little attention is paid to suicide cases in the country.

The Mental Health Authority Chief notes that, in every single reported case of suicide, there are four unreported case of suicide, this, therefore, bring the number of unreported cases to about 6,000 annually.

This is a primitively outrageous statistics which should prompt Ghana to prioritize and mainstreaming issues of mental health much more seriously.

Who is at risk?

While the link between suicide and mental disorders (in particular, depression and alcohol use disorders) is well established in high-income countries, many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis with a breakdown in the ability to deal with life stresses, such as financial problems, relationship break-up or chronic pain and illness.

In addition, experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse, or loss and a sense of isolation are strongly associated with suicidal behaviour. Suicide rates are also high amongst vulnerable groups who experience discrimination, such as refugees and migrants; indigenous peoples; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI) persons; and prisoners. By far the strongest risk factor for suicide is a previous suicide attempt.

Indeed mental health is a complex issue and it’s easy to become confused and unclear about its impact. What is for sure is that everyone’s mental health is important and Ghana as a country should devise comprehensive measures to help anyone who is feeling stigmatized because of poor mental health.

Stigma, particularly surrounding mental disorders and suicide, means many people thinking of taking their own life or who have attempted suicide are not seeking help and are therefore not getting the help they need. The prevention of suicide has not been adequately addressed due to a lack of awareness of suicide as a major public health problem and the taboo in many societies to openly discuss it. To date, only a few countries have included suicide prevention among their health priorities and only 28 countries report having a national suicide prevention strategy.

Raising community awareness and breaking down the taboo is important for Ghana to make progress in preventing suicide.

Methods of suicide

WHO estimates that around 30% of global suicides are due to pesticide self-poisoning, most of which occur in rural agricultural areas in low- and middle-income countries. Other common methods of suicide are hanging and firearms.

Knowledge of the most commonly used suicide methods is important to devise prevention strategies which have shown to be effective, such as restriction of access to means of suicide.

Prevention and control

Suicides are preventable but certainly not what pertains in Ghana’s criminal code of criminalizing suicide. Section 57 Clause 2 of the 1960 Criminal Code of Ghana should, therefore, be expunged without further delay. Additionally, there are a number of measures that can be taken at population, sub-population and individual levels to prevent suicide and suicide attempts. These include:

• reducing access to the means of suicide (e.g. pesticides, firearms, certain medications);
• reporting by media in a responsible way;
• introducing alcohol policies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol;
• early identification, treatment and care of people with mental and substance use disorders, chronic pain and acute emotional distress;
• training of non-specialized health workers in the assessment and management of suicidal behaviour;
• follow-up care for people who attempted suicide and provision of community support.

Suicide is a complex issue and therefore suicide prevention efforts require coordination and collaboration among multiple sectors of society, including the health sector and other sectors such as education, labour, agriculture, business, justice, law, defense, politics, and the media. These efforts must be comprehensive and integrated as no single approach alone can make an impact on an issue as complex as suicide.

–

By: Jerry Detse Mensah-Pah/The author is an Industrial Relations and Development Practitioner and can be reached on [email protected] or 0243164704.

The post Promoting mental health a sure way to reduce suicide [Article] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Similar stories can be told of people who have suffered such discrimination and stigmatisation either at work or home through no fault of theirs

Stigma: Greek origin , refers to bodily sign or mark which signals something unusual or bad about a person (cuts/burns). It indicates that a person is a slave, traitor or a criminal and is to be avoided especially in public places.

Goffman E. (Stigma. 1963) – stigma occurs when an individual is disqualified from full social acceptance because of possession of an attribute that is deeply discrediting.

To discriminate according to the Cambridge advanced learner’s dictionary is to treat a person or particular group of people differently, especially in a worse way from the way in which you treat other people, because of their skin colour, sex, religion etc.  (in this case because of their health status)

Stigma is the biggest obstacle to recovery, treatment and societal acceptance for people living with mental illness. Stigma and discrimination against those living with mental illness is widespread and reaches into our educational institutions, workplaces, homes, health care centres, in the media and even in the churches /mosques. It causes shame, prejudice, apathy, and hopelessness and prevents over half of those living with mental illness from seeking treatment.

Discrimination at work or school, bullying, physical violence or harassments, low self-esteem, tagging or labelling as “abodam,  seke”, madman”, health insurance not adequately covering mental illness are ways by which people are stigmatized. Stigma does not stop at the persons who are suffering from a stigmatized illness. Their immediate and even remote families often experience significant social disadvantages and if care is not taken apathy sets in and the family leaves the patient to his own fate bringing about institutionalization. On some wards visited at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital a few patients had been abandoned by their families after their discharge from the hospital possibly due to fear of stigmatisation by society against such individuals and families. Repatriation by the social welfare department then becomes the only alternative. People are stigmatised and discriminated because;

• It is believed that the patient or family has been cursed and is being tormented by a “spirit or a witch”
• It is believed that if you have a mental illness you may be aggressive, a killer, or even a sex offender.
• It is also believed that most mentally ill people are criminals.
• About 70 % of the television characters with a mental illness are often portrayed as hostile, dangerous, unpredictable and violent.
• It is believed they have poor interactive and social skills.
• Another myth is that mental illness is contagious and incurable.

Need I say that people commit horrendous crimes and may not necessarily be suffering from one mental illness or the other, neither has it been scientifically proven that mental illness is contagious.

It is high time we take strategic steps to minimise or reduce stigmatisation and discrimination of people suffering from mental illness. These include;

• Creating awareness through massive public education: This is to give insight into mental illness, treatment modalities, recovery and prevention. The need for society to realise and be willing to learn that mental illness has nothing to do with witchcraft and that it’s rather a medical condition, neither does one choose it when times are tough nor is it a respecter of persons.Educating people about attitudinal change especially towards people living with mental illness and to desist from using language or words that are derogatory such as (abodam ,“crazy” ,”lunatic”,) but being friendly as a society and using less hurtful words. Getting precise facts and information will also help dispel myths and stereotypes which may help change society’s ideas and actions. Dr. Sammy Ohene, consultant psychiatrist and lecturer at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Ghana Medical School on his part believes that a major step in reducing stigma is the proper integration of mental health into primary health care and vigorous public education about the nature of mental illness. Furthermore promoting education, understanding and respect will help break down barriers of ignorance, prejudice, or unfair discrimination meted out to people living with mental illness.

• Advocacy/support groups: These groups can be formed on local and national levels to offer and organise programmes to inform the public by taking the campaign message of stigma reduction to their doorsteps. If education and awareness creation is intensified the stigma against persons with mental illness will gradually be a thing of the past, and families will not be forced to abandon their relatives in prayer camps or mental institutions. In other parts of the world, some state, federal and programs agencies such as Vocational Rehabilitation and Veterans

Affairs (V.A ) also offer support for people who have mental health conditions. Worthy of note is the fact that discrimination against students because of a mental health condition is against the law, and educators at primary, secondary and tertiary levels are required to accommodate students as best as they can. Parents or guardians can talk to teachers if their child has a mental illness that affects learning, and find out what plans, programs and resources are available to help their wards. A good example is the New Horizon Special School, a day school in Accra geared to serve children and adults who are intellectually disabled.

• Promotion of mental health and stigma reduction project: a major step by government in promotion of mental health and stigma reduction is the passage of the mental health bill in May 2012 and its subsequent enactment into law in Dec, 2012. Act 846 of 2012 which is currently applicable and states that (i). it is unlawful to discriminate against or stigmatize the mentally ill (ii).PWMD are entitled to the same fundamental rights as a fellow citizen, and therefore shall not be subjected to discrimination (54).Government in conjunction with mental health institutions and non-governmental organisations can further embark on projects across the nation aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination to the barest minimum. The anti-stigma and discrimination project should ultimately seek to eliminate the barriers to achieving full inclusion in society and increase access to mental health resources to support individuals and families. Establishing a mental health fund to provide funding for partnerships to assess the effectiveness of existing stigma reduction programs and approaches, including media-oriented approaches such as public service announcements; developing innovative programs such as displaying of posters and distribution of  leaflets, as well as organizing radio and television programs  and examining  the role of the media in perpetuating and changing mental illness, stigma and discrimination will go a long way to curb this menace. Government can also provide guides for employers that detail the benefits of hiring people who have mental illness, providing suggestions for recruiting and training them, outlining action plans for educating employees about mental health and related issues to create a “conducive and a friendly environment”.

• Behavioural therapy: Professor David Roe, chair of the department of community mental health at the University of Haifa, in his earlier studies showed that one of the central obstacles is the negative stigma attached to mental illness by society at large, which is much more powerful than the labels attached to people with other disabilities. This stigma may lead to social exclusion. Another obstacle that may result from stigma is “self-stigma,” whereby people with a mental illness adopt and internalize the social stigma and experience loss of self-esteem and self-efficacy. “People with a mental illness with elevated self-stigma report low self-esteem and low self-image, and as a result they refrain from taking an active role in various areas of life, such as employment, housing and social life,” Roe explains. In an attempt to address this problem, Prof. Philip Yanos of City University of New York, Roe and Prof. Paul Lysaker of Indiana University School of Medicine developed what they term “Narrative Enhancement Cognitive Behavioural Therapy” (NECT).The intervention is aimed at giving people with a mental illness the necessary tools to cope with the “invisible” barrier to social inclusion – self-stigma. A pilot project was carried out on about 22 patients and at the end of the therapy it showed that those who participated in the intervention exhibited a reduced self-stigma and, in parallel, an increase in quality of life and self-esteem. A similar therapy can be employed as a strategy in reducing stigma and discrimination in Ghana.

Let us as a nation help fight stigma and discrimination against mental illness.

–

By: Alberta Puplampu

The Writer, Alberta Puplampu, is a Nursing Officer
Email:[email protected]

The post The stigma and discrimination of mental illness [Article] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking at the launch of the 2017 mental health week at the International Press Centre in Accra, Dr. Osei called for more stringent measures to ensure that the rights of mental patients are protected.

[contextly_sidebar id=”eieNtamIhON6RoWwhBoXYfqspVZIhIa4″]“We want to take advantage of this day and say that our human rights abuses of the mentally ill should stop. In the law, Mental Health Act 20 (846) of 2012, it is clearly spelt out that if you by your act of commission or omission, you neglect or abuse the rights of the mentally ill, that is punishable,” he said.

“We can take you to court and the court will fine you not less than Ghc6,000, or put you in prison for two years or both.”

Referencing a study in 2009 which revealed that about 41% Ghanaians suffer from psychological distress, Dr. Osei called for more attention to be given to mental issues in the country.

Dr. Osei revealed that the impact mental health had on economic productivity of the country, adding that an economy could not grow without a stable mental workforce.

“Of the study that shows 41% of Ghanaians having physiological distress, researchers computed what that means in terms of productivity, and they realized that it meant 7% of our GDP lost by virtue of people’s distress or physiological illnesses for which they cannot go to work, and they absent themselves or they go to work but they can’t function properly.”

“You cannot build the economy without creating wealth, and you cannot create wealth without health, and you cannot have health without mental health, so mental health means total health.”

“And it’s only when you have your total health that you can be productive and grow your economy.” Dr Osei added.

The week-long celebration under the theme “mental health at the work place”, is meant to create awareness creation about mental health, and been supported by the Ministry of Health.

An acceptance speech from the chairperson, Kojo Addae Mensah, Group Chief Executive at Databank, lamented the deplorable state of mental health in Ghana, and urged the media to act as advocates to curb the trend.

“It’s important that the media take up mental health and advocate for it seriously. Already our general health system in the country is not the best, but I can assure if you go out and look at the state of the mental health in Ghana, it is in a deplorable state, if you ask me.’’ he stated.

–

By: Ann-Shirley Ziwu/citifmonline.com/Ghana.

The post Enforce laws against chaining of mental patients – Psychiatrist appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The durbar sponsored by UKaid, brought together traditional rulers, youth and women groups in Dagbon, to chart a new path towards liberating mentally ill people from bondage.

BasicNeeds-Ghana Board Chairman, Dr. Edward N. Gyader, called for an end to stigmatizing mentally ill people.

He implored traditional rulers to join forces with BasicNeeds-Ghana, to deconstruct socially constructed norms that cause disaffection to mentally ill people.

“Let’s stop violating the human rights of mentally ill people and accept their integration into the society.”

The Northern Regional Health Medical Coordinator, Mumuni Fuseini, educated the participants on the causes and effects of common mental disorders.

He said mentally ill people deserved total support from family and community members, and decried the absence of a Mental Health Hospital in the Northern Region where the canker is prevalent.

Mumuni Fuseini therefore underscored the need for government to build a Mental Health Hospital there. A public education officer from the Commission on Human rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), condemned the wanton chaining of mentally ill people without recourse to the legal framework.

The CHRAJ investigator, Inusah Iddrisu, said mentally ill people especially children, have the right to inheritance.

Mumuni Fuseini condemned the abuse of drugs lately adopted by majority of the youth as a lifestyle. He decried the increase in pregnancy of mentally ill women in the region, and served notice that anybody caught in that immorality would not be spared.

He advocated constant collaboration between traditional rulers and the various district assemblies to promote the rights of mentally ill people in their localities.

Some of the participants underscored the need for parents, chiefs and the Clergy, to discipline youth who are promoting drug addiction.

They further cautioned the youth against profane dressing which they said promotes sexual immorality.

They also reminded the various district assemblies of the need to release two percent of the Common Fund allocated for the upkeep of mentally ill people.

The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Sa-eed, said government was committed to partner with relevant bodies to promote the welfare of mentally ill people.

He praised BasicNeeds-Ghana and its allies for the tremendous efforts made towards promoting the rights of mentally ill people.

Salifu Sa-eed admonished NGOs and the various assemblies, to closely monitor prayer camps where mentally ill people are camped to ensure that their rights are not violated.

He assured the mentally ill people that government will ensure the release of their share of the District Assemblies Common Fund for their upkeep.

Chairman of the occasion, chief of Kasuliyili, Alhaji Yakubu Andani, added his voice to calls on the various assemblies to promptly release funds meant for mentally ill people.

He emphasized the importance of sponsoring mentally ill children to acquire higher academic laurels. Kasulilana Yakubu Andani condemned the inhumane treatment of mentally ill people and called for attitudinal change.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Mental health durbar held in Yendi appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the Authority it is using this year’s event which has the theme ‘Take a Minute, Change a Life’ to intensify awareness creation on the prevention of suicide in Ghana.

The Authority has recorded sixteen suicide related deaths between January and April this year with a number of the cases recorded in the Ashanti Region.

Mental health officials have noted that 95% of all suicide cases are due to mental illness most of which are caused by cultural and socio-economic factors.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Mental Health Authority, Dr Akwesi Osei who was addressing a gathering at the St. Georges Church in Kumasi as part of activities commemorating the day said people who attempt suicide in the society must not be seen as criminals or being morally weak.

He said 80% of suicide cases recorded in the country are due to depression which is a preventable and treatable condition.

Dr Osei also urged religious bodies to avoid tagging persons who attempt suicide as ‘sinners’, but should rather use their platforms to sensitize their members on the negative implications of suicide.

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“The religious bodies sometimes also put some false notion in people’s minds and label persons who attempt suicide as sinners or are seen to be afflicted by the evil spirits. That also worsens the stigma and it does not help people to come out for solutions. So by talking to them, by letting them recognize that this is not a sin, it is not moral weakness, it is not a spiritual affliction, the mindset will change. So religious bodies have a big role to play”.

He indicated that Government must put in place the right policies to better the living conditions of the citizenry since most of the suicide cases recorded are due to socio-economic factors.

He added that the decriminalization of attempted suicide from the laws of the country can help prevent such cases.

Dr Osei has therefore called on the general public to desist from stigmatizing persons who attempt suicide.

Between 800 and 1 million people die every year from suicide.

For every one person who commits suicide, about two or three others would have committed a similar act without being reported in the media.

Also, for every one person who completes suicide, about ten others would have attempted without completing it, for every one who attempts suicide, about ten others would have planned without attempting it and for every one person who plans suicide, about ten would have thought of it.

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By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Concerted efforts needed to reduce suicides – Mental Health Authority appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.