From right: Prof. Mike Oquaye, Samira Bawumia, Dr. Akwasi Osei and Pricilla Owusu-Sekyere at the stakeholders meeting
Speaker of Parliament Prof. Mike Oquaye has disclosed the willingness of the law making body to pass the Legislative Instrument (L I) that will see the implementation of the Mental Health Law in the country.
The country passed the Mental Health Bill in 2012 but has since been unable to pass the LI for the full implementation of the law which would see better services and treatment for persons with mental illness.
Thus, in the absence of the LI, the proposed Mental Health Levy has not been operationalised, as well as the formation of the board for the Mental Health Authority.
But Speaker Oquaye, speaking at a mental health stakeholders meeting in Accra yesterday, observed the urgent need for better care for people with mental health conditions, hence pledging his support to facilitate the passage of the LI.
He mentioned that “mental imbalance is capable of affecting anyone; if you can get headache or high blood pressure then you can be psychologically troubled.”
Prof. Oquaye observed that if Ghanaians could look at mental health as an issue affecting anyone anywhere, then the stigma which is often so attached to persons with the condition would end.
“Mental imbalance is a disease that can affect anyone at anytime and should therefore not be stigmatised,” he said.
He also called on stakeholders in the mental health field to not hesitate to propose legislations that would curb the causes of mental health in society, particularly the regulation of medications and drugs.
The wife of Vice President Dr. Bawumia, Samira Bawumia, who was the special guest at the meeting, called on Ghanaians to shun stigmatising people with mental health conditions as it retards the efforts being made to treat them.
She opined that the country loses seven per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) to mental illness, indicating the urgent need for mental healthcare to be prioritised.
“As a nation, it is imperative that we make mental healthcare a priority there is an urgent need for awareness creation on mental health and care,” she said.
Mrs. Bawumia further called on organisations and stakeholders to work together to develop mental healthcare in the country
“Mental health does not only affect those who suffer it but also their loved ones, dependants and society. We cannot be unconcerned and we need to act now,” she reiterated.
The Country Manager for Johnson & Johnson Ghana, Pricilla Owusu-Sekyere, said the company believes in partnerships that achieve health for all; one patient at a time.
She was, thus, optimistic that mental health stakeholders would form the needed synergies to improve care and treatment for patients.
Dr. Akwasi Osei, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Mental Health Authority, stated that out of the about four million Ghanaians suffering from mental illness, only five out of every 10 patients are able to access treatment.
He attributed this to stigma and lack of trained personnel and infrastructure.
Dr. Osei, however, observed that with the soon-to-be passed LI as promised by Prof. Oquaye, mental health would be more decentralised so patients can receive care in their communities.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri