A Psychiatric Nurse with the Bono Regional Hospital, Sunyani, has disclosed that there is no Psychiatrist in the whole of the Bono, Ahafo, Bono East regions.
Desmond Osei Appiah said this while educating the public on Mental Health on a Sunyani based radio station, Ark FM.
The 2022 World Mental Health Day celebration is on the theme, “Making Mental Health a Wellbeing for All; A Global Priority.”
“Currently, staff strength is another challenge for us. There is no Psychiatrist in the Bono, Ahafo, Bono East regions. Since the demise of Dr. Jones, we are yet to have a Psychiatrist in any of the regions.
“What we have at the moment are Clinical Psychiatric officers who take care of patients, but there is no psychiatrist,” he said.
“This poses a challenge to families whose relatives are transferred to Cape Coast or Accra. “Some families are able to take their relatives on transfer, others are not.”
According to the Psychiatric Nurse, the Bono Regional Director of Health Service was working to get a Psychiatrist posted to the region. “Dr. Amo Kodie has assured us that he is working hard to get us one from the new batch coming out,” he said.
SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
In a related development, Mr. Edmund Atta, a Psychiatric Nurse, has disclosed that restlessness could cause mental illness.
Educating the public on causes of mental illness, he explained that the brain was unable to function properly when denied enough sleep.
“Cannabis is not the only cause of mental illness as popularised. Excess intake of alcohol and restlessness can also cause mental illness,” he stressed.
He added that, “restlessness may result in migraine. The body has a way of functioning; over-thinking and continuous sleepless nights affect brain functioning, which can lead to mental illness.”
He, therefore, advised the public to have, at least, eight hours of night sleep every day.
STIGMATISATION
Desmond Osei Appiah, who is also a Psychiatric Nurse at the same facility, advised the public not to stigmatise mental health patients. “Showing them love is the first point of health-giving. Let us get close to them and show them love. Stigmatisation prevents people from seeking medical attention,” he advised.
“Mental illness is not only about those walking on the streets – others may be depressed. Economic hardship, loneliness, among others, can even cause mental illness,” he added.
The Psychiatric Nurses encouraged the public to patronise their facility as the National Health Insurance Scheme covers mental health care at the Bono Regional Hospital.
