The Psychiatric Unit in Tamale, is not user friendly. Since the building was white washed by BASICNEEDS ,in 2002, and has return to it's old glory days. dilapidated doors . The building doesn't support staff morale, let alone ... read full comment
The Psychiatric Unit in Tamale, is not user friendly. Since the building was white washed by BASICNEEDS ,in 2002, and has return to it's old glory days. dilapidated doors . The building doesn't support staff morale, let alone to rule out stigma.
I belief BASICNEEDS should move ahead with new news instead of the same old news of rehabilitated patient doing vegetable cultivation, bicycle repairs . I would have appreciate BASICNEEDS to gice credit to Shekhinah Clinic, who does the bulk of direct care to the mentally disadvantage in and surrounding Tamale. I am yet to investigate and find out about a psychiatric Unit in the Teaching hospital. Psychiatric Nurses should concentrate on managing the mentally disadvantage and promote heath & well being programmes to help the populace, instead of coming to repeat very old stories in the media. Educating the public on Mental health & Well being must be a priority.
It is good Tamale has increase phychiatric nurses, they should put their expetise into action.
joejoe 11 years ago
Mental health really needs a complete overhaul in all of Ghana. It is appallling when diseases such as epilepsy can be classified as a mental illiness. A complete overhaul in education, facilities and management is urgently n ... read full comment
Mental health really needs a complete overhaul in all of Ghana. It is appallling when diseases such as epilepsy can be classified as a mental illiness. A complete overhaul in education, facilities and management is urgently needed,
Sam 11 years ago
It is most disappointing to note in this article that a Psychiatric Nurse uses a term like "Mentally Retarded". As far as I am aware this kind of terminology is longer used in medical and nursing circles.
Secondly, since w ... read full comment
It is most disappointing to note in this article that a Psychiatric Nurse uses a term like "Mentally Retarded". As far as I am aware this kind of terminology is longer used in medical and nursing circles.
Secondly, since when did epilepsy come to be classed as mental illness.
Having said that I wish to express my appreciation to Mr Boamah for highlighting the plight of the mentally ill in Ghana. His concerns have been highlighted in the recent report by Human Right Watch, "Like A Death Sentence (August 2012)"highlights the writer's concerns.
As a society we need to take positive action to address the issue of mental health care in Ghana. We need to shame our governments into taking positive steps to address mental health care in our country. We need to raise the profile of mental health workers and doctors, and promote mental health in very positive light. We need to change people's attitude toward mental illness and educate and support our mothers and fathers to realise there is nothing shameful about being mentally ill. We need to get rid of that stigma. We also need to take positive steps to ensure there Prayer Camps which are treating mentally ill people in dehumanising ways are closed down, or regulated to ensure they no longer infringe on people's basic human rights.
I wish there was a way of connecting with like-minded people so we can move things forward.
A society can be judged by the way it treats its most vulnerable. What would people think of us as civilised people if we continue to put our mentally ill in chains and tie them to trees and heavy rocks.
Adams 11 years ago
I totally agree with you sam. The term "Mentally Retarded" is really unacceptable. In fact I feel sad to see people using those terms. We still have a long road ahead of us.
I totally agree with you sam. The term "Mentally Retarded" is really unacceptable. In fact I feel sad to see people using those terms. We still have a long road ahead of us.
Paul - USA 11 years ago
Agree. Not only is mentally retarded unacceptable it is incorrect. Mental retardation, now more properly called intellectual disability, is a reduction in cognitive functioning sometimes due to developmental problems, somet ... read full comment
Agree. Not only is mentally retarded unacceptable it is incorrect. Mental retardation, now more properly called intellectual disability, is a reduction in cognitive functioning sometimes due to developmental problems, sometimes the result of other illness or insults to the brain. Mental illness is a group of disorders related to brain functioning and emotional-behavioral problems. Many people with mental illness have high cognitive skills and high IQs. And yes, epilepsy is not a mental illness; it is a neurological problem.
All of this is to say that each person needs to be treated individually. With the 2012 mental health bill there is huge opportunity to make changes in how people with these problems are assessed and cared for to help them add to society, and they can.
JKB 11 years ago
As a country, I believe we have a great responsibility to help people who have mental illness. I was shocked to know recently that Ghana has over 2 million people with mental illness. I totally agree that as a nation, we nee ... read full comment
As a country, I believe we have a great responsibility to help people who have mental illness. I was shocked to know recently that Ghana has over 2 million people with mental illness. I totally agree that as a nation, we need to be educated on mental illness. Seems like people have a very limited knowledge about mental illness.I also agree that epilepsy is not mental illness, although it can mimic the symptoms of mental illness, since the constant seizures can destabilize the mood of a person. I also found it funny when hallucination was listed as mental illness. It is a symptom of other forms of mental illness diagnosis, such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, among others. I am currently researching on some of the best practices we can help the mentally ill patients in Ghana. I am welcome for ideas.
Kofi - USA 11 years ago
SORRY BUT EPILEPSY IS NOT A MENTAL ILLNESS. RATHER IT IS A NEUROLOGIC DISORDER. HOWEVER, I DO AGRRE WITH THE FACT THAT MENTALLY CHALLENGED PEOPLE NEED TREATMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOING ENOUGH TO HELP THE MOST VULNERAB ... read full comment
SORRY BUT EPILEPSY IS NOT A MENTAL ILLNESS. RATHER IT IS A NEUROLOGIC DISORDER. HOWEVER, I DO AGRRE WITH THE FACT THAT MENTALLY CHALLENGED PEOPLE NEED TREATMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOING ENOUGH TO HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE.
GEORGE ASIEDU DONKOR 11 years ago
GUARDIANS WITH MENTALLY CHALLENGED WARDS SHOULD TRULY SEND THEM TO THE PSYCHIATRY FOR BETTER TREATMENT AND TO SEND THEM TO CHURCHES AND OTHER SCRIPTURAL CENTERS FOR THEY CANNOT BE CURED.
GUARDIANS WITH MENTALLY CHALLENGED WARDS SHOULD TRULY SEND THEM TO THE PSYCHIATRY FOR BETTER TREATMENT AND TO SEND THEM TO CHURCHES AND OTHER SCRIPTURAL CENTERS FOR THEY CANNOT BE CURED.
European Imperialist 11 years ago
where are Ghana's numerous pastors and their claims to move mountains with faith and prayers? Here, they're presneted with an opportunity to come together to unleash powerful prayers to eliminate the mental ailments for good. ... read full comment
where are Ghana's numerous pastors and their claims to move mountains with faith and prayers? Here, they're presneted with an opportunity to come together to unleash powerful prayers to eliminate the mental ailments for good. But sadly, and predictably Ghana's numerous and noisy deacons, archbishops, prelates, monsignors etc are silent. Why? Because prayers are predictably useless in all things!
Sam 11 years ago
European Imperialist, please dont encourage these self-styled pastors, bishops, prophets and so to come anywhere near mentally ill people. You must read the Human Right Watch report on Ghana and you will understand why I am s ... read full comment
European Imperialist, please dont encourage these self-styled pastors, bishops, prophets and so to come anywhere near mentally ill people. You must read the Human Right Watch report on Ghana and you will understand why I am saying this. They chain them to trees, starve them in the name of fasting and even beat them up, and justify this by saying they are "beating the devil out" of them. Please for God sake don't encourage them at all.
We should be advocating banning them from going anywhere near mentally ill and old people who they call witches. You will be amazed what pain and suffering these pastors and so on are prepared dish out to the most vulnerable members of our society. Please keep them away from the vulnerable.
The Psychiatric Unit in Tamale, is not user friendly. Since the building was white washed by BASICNEEDS ,in 2002, and has return to it's old glory days. dilapidated doors . The building doesn't support staff morale, let alone ...
read full comment
Mental health really needs a complete overhaul in all of Ghana. It is appallling when diseases such as epilepsy can be classified as a mental illiness. A complete overhaul in education, facilities and management is urgently n ...
read full comment
It is most disappointing to note in this article that a Psychiatric Nurse uses a term like "Mentally Retarded". As far as I am aware this kind of terminology is longer used in medical and nursing circles.
Secondly, since w ...
read full comment
I totally agree with you sam. The term "Mentally Retarded" is really unacceptable. In fact I feel sad to see people using those terms. We still have a long road ahead of us.
Agree. Not only is mentally retarded unacceptable it is incorrect. Mental retardation, now more properly called intellectual disability, is a reduction in cognitive functioning sometimes due to developmental problems, somet ...
read full comment
As a country, I believe we have a great responsibility to help people who have mental illness. I was shocked to know recently that Ghana has over 2 million people with mental illness. I totally agree that as a nation, we nee ...
read full comment
SORRY BUT EPILEPSY IS NOT A MENTAL ILLNESS. RATHER IT IS A NEUROLOGIC DISORDER. HOWEVER, I DO AGRRE WITH THE FACT THAT MENTALLY CHALLENGED PEOPLE NEED TREATMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOING ENOUGH TO HELP THE MOST VULNERAB ...
read full comment
GUARDIANS WITH MENTALLY CHALLENGED WARDS SHOULD TRULY SEND THEM TO THE PSYCHIATRY FOR BETTER TREATMENT AND TO SEND THEM TO CHURCHES AND OTHER SCRIPTURAL CENTERS FOR THEY CANNOT BE CURED.
where are Ghana's numerous pastors and their claims to move mountains with faith and prayers? Here, they're presneted with an opportunity to come together to unleash powerful prayers to eliminate the mental ailments for good. ...
read full comment
European Imperialist, please dont encourage these self-styled pastors, bishops, prophets and so to come anywhere near mentally ill people. You must read the Human Right Watch report on Ghana and you will understand why I am s ...
read full comment