Accra, June 22, GNA - Madam Amina Bukari, National Coordinator of Community Psychiatry, had advised parents against constantly knocking their children on the head, because it could lead to mental illness. "Accidents, lack of affection, usage of un-prescribed drugs and diseases such as malaria and t yphoid, can also cause mental illness if not treated well," she said.

Madam Bukari addressing a community durbar on mental illness organised by management of Mind Freedom Ghana, a mental health oriented NGO at Osu Ashante in Accra on Tuesday, appealed to parents not to hesitate in bringing their children who exhibited abnormal behaviours to the hospital. "When one delays in bringing a person who exhibits strange behaviour to the psychiatric hospital for early treatment, it makes treatment rather difficult thereby compounding problems of the affected person," she said. She advised Ghanaians to eat more fruits, exercise regularly, desist from eating late and visit the psychiatric hospital at least once a year to know the status of their mental health.

Madam Bukari called on Ghanaians not to neglect persons with mental problems, since they could be treated if taken to the psychiatric hospital. Mrs Janet Amegatcher, Executive Director of Mind Freedom Ghana, appealed to government to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to show its commitment towards the well being of the disabled in the country.

"We need the government to go beyond just signing the UN Convention to ratify it, so that it can share in the vision and mission of the convention," she added. Mrs Amegatcher noted that by ratifying the convention, issues pertaining to the well being of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the country would be well addressed, because government would be bound by the convention. "Government's inability to ratify this convention has led to people always violating the rights of PWDs which does not speak well of the country," she noted. 22 June 10