BasicNeeds-Ghana Sensitizes Communities on Mental Health

BasicNeeds-Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, has held community durbars in three districts of the Northern Region to sensitize citizens on mental illness, epilepsy, and the rights of persons with mental illness.

The durbars, which were used to sensitise the public on the Mental Health Act, were also to impress on chiefs to make pronouncements supportive of mental health in their respective jurisdictions as well as serve as fora to work towards reducing stigma and discrimination against persons living with mental illness and epilepsy.

The durbars, which ended over the weekend, were held at Wenchiki in the Chereponi District, Wapuli in the Saboba District and Salaga in the East Gonja District where about 2,250 people comprising chiefs, opinion leaders, and representatives from public and private institutions amongst others participated.

The durbars formed part of the “Support Mental Health Services in Ghana” project, which seeks to increase access to formal mental health services for people with mental illness or epilepsy, who seek treatment from spiritual/prayer camps and traditional healers.

The project, which is funded by UKAID, also aims to sensitise the public on reducing stigma and discrimination against people with mental illness and epilepsy.

It is estimated that one out of every four persons is likely to develop mental illness in their lifetime.

Mr John Aganizaah, Community Psychiatric Nurse at East Gonja Municipal, who facilitated the durbar at Salaga, enlightened members of the public on mental illness and the rights of mentally-ill people, calling for support for persons with mental illness and epilepsy.

Mr Aganizaah also called on families to support persons with mental disorders to ensure that their rights were protected.

He spoke against stigmatization and discrimination against persons with mental disorders, saying the law would deal with people who violated the rights of the mentally-ill people.

Salagawura Ababio Safianu, the Chief of Salaga, pledged his support for mental health advising all to accept mentally-ill people in society to ensure that they led decent lives.

Mr Kingsley Kumbelim, a Project Officer at BasicNeeds-Ghana, said addressing mental health concerns required the collective efforts.

Mr Kumbelim expressed regret that mentally ill people were being abused and their rights violated in certain circumstances and urged all to continue the awareness creation on mental health issues to protect the rights of mentally-ill people.

Source: GNA