As part of efforts to create mental health awareness, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital has celebrated its maiden edition of the Psychology Week. Patients as well as the general public benefitted from some psychological techniques and education to ensure their mental wellbeing.

The Psychology Week Celebration was pioneered by the Clinical Psychology Centre of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital from the 10th to 14th of June 2019. The Head of Clinical Services, Dr Ralph Armah representing management assured participants of the Cente’s support to promote mental health amongst patients and staff.

Data from the World Health Organization states that of the 21.6 million people living in Ghana, 650,000 are suffering from a severe mental disorder and a further 2,166, 000 are suffering from a moderate to mild mental disorder.

These numbers are alarming seeing as how crucial mental health is to not only affected individuals and their families but also their social and work environments.

Speaking on encouraging individuals to take a step towards their mental well-being, Head of Clinical Psychology Centre, Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Maura Cranny Ntow said, “Our daily lives are filled with stressors; not taking time to manage them leads to illness and mental disorders. Doing an introspection, learning coping techniques and asking for help when you need it are ways by which we can ensure our mental wellbeing.”

Participants of the Psychology week celebration were trained on assertive skills in health care to protect the wellness of patients and health care professionals; anger management and progressive muscle relaxation; identifying stressors and how to manage stress as well as distorted thinking patterns and its effect on health followed by an assessment on Executive functions (Planning, Judgment, abstract thinking and decision making).

To crown the Psychology Week Celebration, corporate visits were done where staff of Immigration Service, Teachers Fund and Vanguard Life got trained and sensitized on their mental wellbeing and how to secure their health.

A participant of the Psychology Week Training Session, Deputy Controller General Judith Djokoto-Lomo said, “We all need this but sometimes they are not easily available. Thank you for coming to us and pointing us to the right direction. We will ensure we take care of our mental health.”

The Clinical Psychology Centre of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital is committed to promoting mental health awareness and leading the conversation on the need to make significant efforts to protect the wellness of Ghanaian citizens.