The Mental Health Society of Ghana (MEHSOG) has urged the government and relevant agencies to develop a coordinated framework for delivering mental health services during disasters and emergencies.

The call comes as the world commemorates World Mental Health Day 2025 under the theme “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies.”

In a statement signed by Executive Secretary Humphrey Matey Kofie, MEHSOG emphasised that mental health is often overlooked in emergency responses, despite being a critical aspect of recovery.

The organisation noted that while relief efforts typically focus on physical and material needs, the emotional and psychological well-being of victims and frontline workers must also be prioritised.

“The theme is appropriate for our times,” the statement read. “It reminds us that mental health challenges are prevalent during disasters, and affected individuals must receive timely and quality mental health care. Frontline professionals, too, who often work under intense conditions, require support to cope with trauma and burnout.”

Globally, MEHSOG cited multiple crises, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israeli-Hamas conflict, and various natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and epidemics, as vivid examples of how catastrophes cause widespread trauma, grief, and psychological distress.

The statement noted that such conditions, if unaddressed, can evolve into long-term mental disorders requiring professional intervention.

In Ghana, MEHSOG highlighted several recent national disasters that have left deep psychological scars — including the Akosombo Dam spillage, the Apeatse explosion, and the recent helicopter crash that claimed eight lives.

Ethnic conflicts in parts of the Northern Region, notably in Gbiniyiri, have also resulted in deaths, mass displacement, and emotional suffering among affected communities.

“These events not only cause physical destruction but also trigger mental health crises marked by grief, anxiety, depression, and trauma,” MEHSOG stated. “Rebuilding lives after such tragedies should therefore include deliberate efforts to provide psychological and emotional rehabilitation.”

The organisation commended the Mental Health Authority (MHA), the Ghana Psychological Association, and the Psychiatric Association of Ghana for their efforts in providing mental health interventions despite limited resources. It also praised national frontline responders such as NADMO, the Ghana Health Service, and the Security Services for their commitment during crises.

However, MEHSOG expressed concern about the lack of a coordinated national policy that integrates mental health care into disaster management systems. It therefore called on NADMO and the MHA to convene a stakeholder engagement aimed at developing a policy guide and practice manual for mental health interventions during catastrophes.

“We believe that a well-structured and unified response mechanism will ensure efficient deployment of mental health services consistent with global standards,” the statement added.

MEHSOG also recommended that such engagements include capacity-building programs to strengthen professional readiness and community resilience.

Touching on Ghana’s ongoing environmental crisis, MEHSOG described illegal mining (galamsey) as a “present and imminent catastrophe,” citing research on the harmful levels of mercury in water bodies and its potential health and psychological effects. The organisation reiterated its support for efforts to abolish galamsey and protect both the environment and public health.

MEHSOG concluded its statement with a call for public education and community involvement in mental health advocacy. “Let us all make Ghana a better place by supporting conversations around mental health, especially during emergencies,” Kofie said.