MFGh embarks on mental health education 

A non-governmental Organisation (NGO) MindFreedom (MFGh) has embarked on an intensive public education on mental health and how to handle patients.

The educational forum, which was held at Akoefe-Gadza in the Ho Municipality, was attended by chiefs, teachers, parents, students and civil society groups.

Addressing the participants, the Executive Secretary of MFGh, Mr Dan Taylor said mental health should be regarded as a universal basic human rights, which needed to be given the maximum attention.

Mr Taylor said his outfit had started educating Ghanaians 19 years ago on mental health, and the importance of seeking early treatment at hospitals.

He announced that Open Society Africa (OSA) Organisation sponsored the outreach education programme, and commended it for the special interest shown in the promotion of mental health in the country.

According to him, lack of education on mental health over the years made some people believe that mental health was the work of the devil, and normally take patients to prayer centres and spiritualists for treatment.

Mr Taylor, therefore asked prayer camp leaders and spiritualists to refer mental health cases to health facilities and should stop chaining them, which worsen their conditions.

The Director of EmpoweringMinds Ghana, Mr Emmanuel Adadey said his Organisation was an NGO based in Ho and had partnered with MFGh to promote public education on mental health to reduce stigma and discrimination against mental health patients in the country.

Mr Adadey said it was important for Ghanaians to appreciate mental health as one of the diseases and avoid discrimination against patients, which most of the time worsens their conditions because the patients were more often isolated.

He, therefore, asked Ghanaians to show mental health patients love and care to facilitate the healing process.

The Chief of Akoefe-Gadza, Togbe Dikro IV commended the two organisations for Organising the programme, which gave the residents a better understanding of mental health.

FROM LAWRENCE MARKWEI , AKOEFE-GADZA

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