Adidome: The Central Tongu District Health Directorate, with the support of Togbe Kwasinyi Agyemang Kakaklolo V, Dufia of Adidome, and other partners, has successfully marked the ‘2025 Mental Health Purple Month’. The Month was marked with a series of activities aimed at raising awareness, reducing stigma, and promoting inclusion for persons living with mental health conditions.
According to Ghana News Agency, the campaign was observed under the theme ‘Mental Well-Being, My Voice Matters’. It mobilised communities across the district through floats, radio discussions, stakeholder forums, film shows, health screenings, and street outreaches. At a stakeholder engagement meeting held at the old District Assembly Hall, representatives from the District Assembly, Ghana Police Service, traditional and religious leaders, non-profit organisations, and civic groups discussed the challenges facing mental health care in the district. They pledged stronger collaboration, improved funding, and integration of mental health services into primary healthcare delivery.
The campaign also featured a float through the principal streets of Adidome, which drew wide public attention as health workers, students, artisans, and youth groups carried placards and banners calling for inclusion and support for mental health. In partnership with social welfare officers and security agencies, the mental health team carried out street outreach activities, identifying and treating 42 individuals living with mental health conditions in public spaces. They received personal care, clothing, and medical attention, while efforts were made to reintegrate them into their families and communities.
Community health screenings held in Mafi Agoe, Bakpa-Avedo, Mafi Dove, and Adidome reached more than 550 people. A total of 120 residents were identified with mental health conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and substance use disorders. Free medication was provided, and 44 individuals were referred for further treatment.
Mr. Baba Awuni, Central Tongu District Health Director, underscored the importance of mental health to overall development and called for sustained investment in interventions at the community level. He stated that mental health is not just a health issue but a development issue, emphasizing that mentally healthy people can work, learn, and contribute meaningfully to their families and communities. The campaign demonstrated that with the right support, people are willing to open up, seek help, and stand against stigma. Mr. Awuni called for the support of corporate Ghana to bolster the initiative.
Togbe Kakaklolo commended the Directorate and its partners for the initiative and appealed for continuous community support to strengthen mental health services in the district. The Directorate noted that the campaign had increased public awareness, improved collaboration among stakeholders, and reduced stigma, although limited logistics and funding posed challenges to wider coverage and follow-up care. It recommended intensified engagement through schools, religious institutions, and the media, as well as capacity building for community health workers and vocational support for persons recovering from mental illness.