Over 7,000 young people from 95 schools in 19 districts across the country have been reached by various programmes by BasicNeeds Ghana through the implementation of inclusive policies and programmes that address the mental health needs of the poor and vulnerable, especially young people and women.
Ghana Alliance for Mental Health and Development, made up of over 128 civil society organisations and individuals, continue to widely sensitise the public and advocate improvement in mental health services and policies in Ghana.
With the support of STAR-Ghana and UNDP, BasicNeeds-Ghana and its implementation partners continue to bring to the fore the need for improved health and well-being of young people, especially in this age and time where they are subtle and subject to inevitable changes that can largely affect their health and mentality.
Addressing the media on the observation of the World Mental Health Day, Adam Dokurugu Yahaya, programmes manager of BasicNeeds-Ghana, mentioned that the youth are the future of any society and everything should be done to safeguard them and their future.
Mr. Yahaya indicated that government, civil society organisations, individuals and corporate bodies and the entire Ghanaian populace must support every effort aimed at promoting mental health and well-being of young people, their families and community by adequately resourcing the mental health system in Ghana.
He further entreated the Ministry of Health (MoH) and its related agencies, particularly the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Mental Health Authority (MHA), to develop specialist services that suitably address mental health issues of young people in communities and across the healthcare system of the country and completely de-stigmatise mental health issues.
According to him, this would encourage young people and others who are in need of mental healthcare to free access it.
“We recommended the provision of psychosocial support and counselling services to be deepened, especially in educational institutions,” he reiterated.
October 10 has been set aside by the United Nations as the World Mental Health Day. The day is set aside yearly to acknowledge efforts in improving global mental health by increasing awareness and enhancing practices and services.
FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale