Figures of Persons with Mental Health cases in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region are becoming so high and alarming to due to increase alcohol intake among the youth. Apexnewsgh.com reports
The alarming revelation was made by the District Mental Health Focal Person Prince Kofi Yeboah during a meeting with representatives of mental health Self Help Groups (SHGs) together with key staff of the Bongo District Assembly and other decentralized agencies as part of activities to mark the 2021 World Mental Health Day.
Mr. Yeboah highlighted that in 2017, the district recorded 764, in 2018, it came down to 697, and in 2019 it dropped again to 682 and unfortunately ballooned to 769 in 2020.
He further stressed that, “…Is not like we went on the internet and google for the figure ‘No’ these are the accurate figures on the ground.
“We are doing a lot but, I think we cannot do it all on our own. We need everybody on board Self Help Group we need you, media we need you, our opinion leaders we need you, security services we need you and Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, (CHRAJ), we need everybody on board. He appealed
Mr. Yaboah said, Psychotropic medication still remained one of the greatest challenges they are facing because they don’t have the medications.
He said in the past, the Psychotropic medication wasn’t an issue to the Bongo District because BasicNeeds-Ghana and the hospital support them in that regard but the story isn’t the same currently because of some policies.
“Bongo was fortunate BasicNeeds-Ghana was helping, the hospital was also doing their best but as it stands now because certain policies help our client these medications. He said
However, he pointed that the recent increase witnessed in Mental Health cases in the district is a result of the abuse of alcohol, such as drinking, tramadol, wee smoking and more.
The interface meeting gave leaders of SHGs the opportunity to demand for increased support to persons with mental health conditions and the operationalization of the District Mental Health Plan. This activity is undertaken with the support of Ghana Somubi Dwumadie funded with UK aid from the UK government. The meeting is expected to bring about scaled-up quality, integrated, disability-inclusive community-based and recovery-oriented mental health and social services.
More to come
Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
