Mr Dan Taylor, Executive Secretary, MindFreedom Ghana has stated that early intervention is key in the fight against Mental health needs to reduce mental problems.
According to him, a World Health Organization (WHO) report has revealed that about 2.8 million Ghanaians have one form of mental health condition or the other, hence the need to seek early health care intervention from the hospital.
He stated that mental condition is with us on a daily basis and we need to know what it takes to have a mental condition problem to enable one to seek treatment timely.
Speaking at an Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) sponsored community durbar on mental health awareness creation and Rights of person with mental health conditions at Adankwame in the Nwabiagya North District of the Ashanti region, Mr. Taylor noted that late intervention worsens the condition, especially after the patients have sought assistance from Mallams, Spiritualists or Churches for treatment.
He stressed that the first place to call when one notices unusual behavior is the hospital.
The Executive Secretary disclosed that the objective of the project was to strengthen the capacity of MindFreedom Ghana, as an Organization and promote NGOs Advocacy on the Rights of persons with Psychosocial Disabilities in the context of the Universal periodic Review (UPR) Mechanism.
Madam Faustina Nuako, Ashanti regional Mental coordinator revealed that all the hospitals in the region have mental Units with mental workers as well as seven rehabilitation centers in the region where persons with Psychosocial problems could seek treatment and help.
She stressed that there was no need to go to spiritualists, churches and prayer centers for treatment of mental problems.
The Regional Mental Coordinator stressed that, mental health challenge is not a respecter of any persons adding that some of the causes include poverty, financial losses, loss of job or unemployment, commotion or over excitement, disappointment in relationship.
She mentioned Hereditary, Head injury, Alcohol intake, Drug abuse, Malaria and untreated typhoid, HIV and malnutrition amongst others, as major causes of mental health challenges.
