The Upper East Alliance for Mental Health and Development has called on the general public to avoid stigmatization against persons living with mental illness.
The group made the call during the 2016 World Mental Health Day celebration in Bolgatanga.
World mental health day is observed on October 10 every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.
The theme for this year’s celebration was “Dignity in Mental Health –Psychological Mental Health First Aid for All.”
The day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people across the world. Upper East Alliance for Mental Health and Development as stakeholders working on mental health issues within the region have also played a key role in promoting people with mental disorder with support from BasicNeeds- Ghana a Non-Governmental Organization with its focus on mental health and development advocacy that implements and promotes initiatives to transform the lives of people with mental illness or epilepsy by providing access to integrated mental health care, social and economic services in the communities of Ghana.
This year’s celebration started with a float through the principal streets of Bolgatanga the regional capital with an involvement of Christian mothers, Tailors and Hairdressers Associations, Red Cross, Students, Assemblymen and Women, Religious leaders, Chiefs and Community members.
Speaking at the 2016 mental health day celebration, Chairman for the upper east Alliance Mike Fuoh stressed that the purpose of the yearly celebration is to tackle stigma and isolation surrounding people living with mental illness in our homes, families, offices, communities and even place of worship.
He called on all hands to be on deck to arrest the situation because according to him “every one of us has a role to play as stakeholders.”
The Project Officer for Basic-Needs Ghana, Mr. Bernard Azure believes that this year’s theme “Dignity in Mental Health-Psychological Mental Health First Aid for All” gives the general public the opportunity to contribute to the discussion which will see a movement to action that ensures that dignity of people with mental illness is realized.
“The theme of the celebration this year impresses upon each of us not only to talk about rights of people with mental illness, but more importantly, to walk that talk by effecting the minimum contributions each one of us, be it family member, friend, neighbor or health care service provider, ought to make in ensuring that persons living with mental illness have and live in dignity” he said.
Mr. Azure indicated that through the collective effort of stakeholders in mental health development in Ghana, they have made some progress towards ensuring that the rights of people with psychological disability are respected and upheld. He believes some of the concrete actions towards recognizing the dignity of people with mental illness include the passage of the mental health law (Act 846) and the establishment of the Mental Health Authority and its governing board and the establishment of Regional Mental Sub-Committees to effectively address the needs and rights of persons with mental illness and epilepsy.
By: Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen/A1RADIOONLINE.COM/GHANA
