Sekondi-takoradi: The Sekondi-Takoradi Cluster Compassion International Ghana Assisted Project has marked World Mental Health Day with a firm appeal to the government and society to prioritize mental health access and eliminate the stigma surrounding the illness.
According to Ghana News Agency, the celebration, themed 'Mental health services in catastrophes and emergencies,' gathered caregivers, participants, counselors, ministers of the gospel, mental health experts, school children, and the media. The event coincided with the youth conference Impact Camp 2025 for children in the Sekondi-Takoradi Cluster.
Madam Mary Owusu Manu, the Western Regional Mental Health Coordinator, emphasized the importance of maintaining mental health care during emergencies. She urged the government to improve access to mental health facilities and foster open dialogues between parents, teachers, and caregivers.
The Very Reverend Isaac Kwame Ghartey, the Superintendent Minister of the Anaji Estate Christ the King Methodist Church, encouraged the state and church to provide psychological support to mental health patients. He highlighted the need for society to consider the physical aspects of illnesses that can lead to mental health issues, and for ministers to incorporate mental health education into their teachings.
Mr. Isaac Kwesi Ankomah, the Project Director and Clinical Psychologist for the Sekondi-Takoradi Cluster Compassion International Ghana Assisted Projects, underlined that access to mental health services is a matter of rights, dignity, and justice. He emphasized the initiative to make Sekondi-Takoradi a model of mental health inclusion and resilience.
Obahyema Eboh Kra II, the Queenmother of the Mpohor Traditional Area, advised the youth to avoid drug abuse, a significant contributor to mental health issues. She called for society to reject stigmatization and neglect of mental health patients, instead offering them counseling, care, and support.
