A situation analysis of mental health services and legislation in Ghana: challenges for transformation

Ofori-Atta, Angela; Read, Ursula M.; Lund, Crick

doi:10.4314/ajpsy.v13i2.54353

Cited by 91 publications

(126 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…In Ghana, as in many other low-income African countries (Jacob et al, 2007;Kohn, Saxena, Levav, & Saraceno, 2004;Saxena, Thornicroft, Knapp, & Whiteford, 2007), 'conventional' mental health services are plagued by inadequate resources, frequently lacking sufficient medications and a paucity of mental health staff, particularly amongst the allied mental health professions (Ofori-Atta, Read, & Lund, 2010). In addition, the availability of psychiatric care in Ghana is geographically inequitable and significantly skewed in favour of the southern urban areas (Doku et al, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

‘Whether you like it or not people with mental problems are going to go to them’: A qualitative exploration into the widespread use of traditional and faith healers in the provision of mental health care in Ghana

Ae-Ngibise

Cooper

Adiibokah

et al. 2010

International Review of Psychiatry

212

169

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Limited research has been conducted to explore the factors that support or obstruct collaboration between traditional healers and public sector mental health services. The first aim of this study was to explore the reasons underpinning the widespread appeal of traditional/faith healers in Ghana. This formed a backdrop for the second objective, to identify what barriers or enabling factors may exist for forming bi-sectoral partnerships. Eighty-one semi-structured interviews and seven focus group discussions were conducted with 120 key stakeholders drawn from five of the ten regions in Ghana. The results were analysed through a framework approach. Respondents indicated many reasons for the appeal of traditional and faith healers, including cultural perceptions of mental disorders, the psychosocial support afforded by such healers, as well as their availability, accessibility and affordability. A number of barriers hindering collaboration, including human rights and safety concerns, scepticism around the effectiveness of 'conventional' treatments, and traditional healer solidarity were identified. Mutual respect and bi-directional conversations surfaced as the key ingredients for successful partnerships. Collaboration is not as easy as commonly assumed, given paradigmatic disjunctures and widespread scepticism between different treatment modalities. Promoting greater understanding, rather than maintaining indifferent distances may lead to more successful co-operation in future.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

‘Whether you like it or not people with mental problems are going to go to them’: A qualitative exploration into the widespread use of traditional and faith healers in the provision of mental health care in Ghana

Ae-Ngibise

Cooper

Adiibokah

et al. 2010

International Review of Psychiatry

212

169

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…For example, focus group discussions have been frequently used by the Mental Health and Poverty Project (MHaPP) to collect data. 31,32,33,34 Focus group discussions have also been used by other researchers to assess mental health needs in a variety of contexts. 35,36,37,38,39,40 The ability to speak English to a fair standard was a requirement to participate in the study.…”

Section: Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

The experiences of parents of children with mental disability regarding access to mental health care

Coomer¹

2013

Afr. J. Psych

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Objective: The aim of this qualitative study was to describe the problems that parents or caregivers of children with mental health disabilities and disorders in Namibia experience when accessing healthcare resources for their children. Method: Data was collected through focus group discussions with the participants and individual interviews with the key informants. Overall, a total of 41 people provided information for this study. Thematic data analysis was used to assess the data. Results: The main barriers experienced by the parents were poor service provision, transport and money, whilst access to education services facilitated access to healthcare services. Conclusion: The challenges go beyond commonly-reported problems such as sub-optimal service provision and include the basic challenge of lack of transportation to reach healthcare services. Many of the barriers identified in this study have been related to general problems with the healthcare system in Namibia. Therefore there is a need to address general concerns about healthcare provision as well as improve specific services for children with mental health disabilities and disorders in Namibia.

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“…Over 100 countries have participated in the WHO AIMS project [1] It was first conducted in Ghana in 2005 [2] but that survey was limited and relied on much extrapolation. This is the first mental health system survey in Ghana that has covered the whole country.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An overview of Ghana’s mental health system: results from an assessment using the World Health Organization’s Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems (WHO-AIMS)

Roberts

Mogan

Asare

2014

Int J Ment Health Syst

164

188

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BackgroundThis survey provides data on the Mental Health System in Ghana for the year 2011. It supplies essential planning information for the implementation of Ghana’s new Mental Health Act 846 of 2012, a renewal of the Ghana 5 year plan for mental health and it contributes to international knowledge base on mental health. It provides a baseline from which to measure future progress in Ghana and comparison data for use in other countries. In addition to reporting our findings we describe and analyse deficiencies and strengths of the Ghana mental health system.MethodsWe used the World Health Organization’s Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems (WHO-AIMS) to collect, analyse, and report data on the mental health system and services for all districts of the ten regions of Ghana. Data was collected in 2012, based on the year 2011.ResultsIn 2011, Ghana was a lower middle income country with a population of approximately 25 million. A mental health policy, plan and legislation were in place. Mental health legislation was outdated and no longer in line with best practice standards. Services were significantly underfunded with only 1.4% of the health expenditure going to mental health, and spending very much skewed towards urban areas. There were 123 mental health outpatient facilities, 3 psychiatric hospitals, 7 community based psychiatric inpatient units, 4 community residential facilities and 1 day treatment centre, which is well below what would be expected for Ghana’s economic status. The majority of patients were treated in outpatient facilities and psychiatric hospitals and most of the inpatient beds were provided by the latter. There were an estimated 2.4 million people with mental health problems of which 67,780 (ie 2.8%) received treatment in 2011. The were 18 psychiatrists, 1,068 Registered Mental Nurses, 19 psychologists, 72 Community Mental Health Officers and 21 social workers working in mental health which is unbalanced with an unbalanced emphasis on nurses compared to what would be expected.ConclusionsThe main strength of the mental health system was the presence of a long established service with staff working across the country in outpatients departments and hospitals. The main weakness was that government spending on mental health was very low and the bulk of services, albeit very sparse, were centred around the capital city leaving much of the rest of the country with almost no provision. Service provision was dominated by nurses with few other professions groups present.

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A situation analysis of mental health services and legislation in Ghana: challenges for transformation

Cited by 91 publications

References 16 publications

‘Whether you like it or not people with mental problems are going to go to them’: A qualitative exploration into the widespread use of traditional and faith healers in the provision of mental health care in Ghana

‘Whether you like it or not people with mental problems are going to go to them’: A qualitative exploration into the widespread use of traditional and faith healers in the provision of mental health care in Ghana

The experiences of parents of children with mental disability regarding access to mental health care

An overview of Ghana’s mental health system: results from an assessment using the World Health Organization’s Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems (WHO-AIMS)

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