Mental Health: New Approaches to an Old Problem

Abstract

An overview of scientific advances in our understanding of mental illnesses over the last half century is considered within the Ghanaian context. Mental illnesses result from a complex interplay of brain circuitry, neurotransmitters, genetics, psychosocial and environmental factors. Stigma, based on ignorance continues to be a significant barrier to care in Ghana. Additionally, the high cost of mental illnesses resulting from prolonged disability, lost productivity and direct and indirect treatment costs should inform strategicplans for the prevention and treatment of psychiatric illnesses. With a psychiatrist to patient ratio of 1:2 million people, it is imperative that all physicians and other healthcare providers be psychiatrically informed practitioners, if we are to adequately care for our mentally disabled citizens. Psychiatric illnesses are significant in at least 50% of primary care visits. Untreated, they contribute to poormedical outcomes and suicide. Major psychiatric and substance use disorders are chronic medical illnesses of the brain, essentially no different from chronic illnesses of other organs like diabetes and hypertension. Implementation of the Mental Health Law, should beguided by scientific evidence and proven multi-modal treatments, including psychopharmacology and culturally informed psychotherapeutic and communitybased interventions. The law should form the basis for inter-disciplinary training in public mental health education and stigma reduction among teachers, nurses, physicians, social workers, judicial law enforcement agencies, pastors and others. Modern communications technology is currently underutilized in supporting sustainable solutions that offer protectionof human rights and the promotion of resiliency and recovery, based on scientific evidence.