Dambai, Ghana - When Kwabena Asare*, 32 from Bodada in Ghana’s Oti region developed a mental health condition in 2018, he sought help from the health centre and received medication and support, which is helping him to recover.

However, he is concerned that the lack of support from family and friends is undermining his recovery efforts.

“My family do not offer me support because they do not understand my condition,” says Asare at a people living with mental health condition forum at the Bodada community centre, “No one listens to me even when I try to explain my challenges because they see me as a ‘mad man’ who should be ignored”.

Family and community participation has long been identified as a key element in the efforts to improve mental healthcare and put people with mental health conditions on the path to recovery. 

As part of activities to mark 2023 World Mental Health Day celebration, the World Health Organization(WHO) and the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office(FCDO) supported the Mental Health Authority and the Ghana Health Service to organize a community engagement forum to listen to communities and people with mental health conditions on ways to improve mental healthcare.

“The importance of family and community is not only to care for persons with mental health conditions but also breaking the stigma,” noted the WHO Representative to Ghana, Prof Francis Kasolo as he led the World Mental Health Day activities in the Oti region. “Let us all commit to work together to deepen the value we afford to mental health and to reshape the environments that negatively impact the wellbeing of our people”.

The Mental Health Authority believes a strong mental health system will only be effective when communities play a supportive role in the lives of people with mental health conditions.

"Involving communities in the treatment of persons with mental health conditions will improve treatment outcomes and subsequent integration into communities," says the Chief Executive of the Mental Health Authority, Prof Adwoa Pinaman Appau.

In addition to the community engagements, a national World Mental Health Day durbar was organized in the Oti region with the aim of creating awareness and mobilizing communities to support the mental health agenda.

In her remarks, the Health Advisor for UK-FCDO in Ghana, Uzoamaka Gilpin pledged the support of the United Kingdom to Ghana’s mental health agenda.

“Mental health is as important as physical health. The UK Government will continue to walk with Ghana on the journey to improving mental healthcare,” she added.

The 2023 World Mental Health Day was characterized by mental health screening and support, community engagements and forums for students and teachers in the Oti region.

*Name changed to protect identity