In January 2010, Ghanaians were shocked by the tragic news of a mother, Georgina Akweley Pipson, who killed her five children and then committed suicide. In her early 30s, Georgina arranged her children's bodies on her bed after giving them a poisonous substance before ending her own life. Her suicide note, which contained pleas for forgiveness and expressions of abandonment, highlighted the severity of her mental anguish.

It was later revealed that Georgina suffered from postpartum depression, a condition that had gone untreated through multiple pregnancies until her fourth and fifth births. Unfortunately, by then, it was too late to save her.

This incident underscored the inadequate mental healthcare system in Ghana at the time. Dr. Akwasi Osei, then Executive Director of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, cited Georgina’s case as a stark indicator of the country's deficiencies in mental health services, including a shortage of qualified personnel, outdated mental health laws, pervasive stigma, and a lack of familial and state support for the mentally ill.

According to Dr. Emmanuel Tenkorang, Ashanti Regional Director of Health, around 50% of pregnant women experience severe mental crises during pregnancy and within a year after delivery. He emphasized the need for a Maternal Mental Health Policy to help caregivers identify and manage mental health conditions associated with pregnancy early on.

The Mental Health Authority of Ghana has designated May as Mental Health Awareness Month, with the first week dedicated to maternal mental health. This year's theme is “Movement: Moving More for Our Mental Health.” The focus is on perinatal depression, which includes both prenatal and postpartum depression, as these are the most common mental health conditions during pregnancy. Early detection and treatment are crucial for saving more women from similar fates.

Maternal mental health pertains to the emotional and psychological well-being of women during pregnancy, delivery, and up to one year postpartum. Pregnancy's physiological changes and accompanying stress can trigger mental health issues, exacerbated by social factors like marital problems and financial difficulties. Despite the high prevalence of maternal mental health disorders in Ghana, there is minimal provision for screening, early detection, and effective management within the current healthcare system.

Health experts are advocating for the integration of maternal mental health interventions at all levels of the healthcare system, starting from the community. Significant challenges include a lack of trained staff, financial constraints, unaffordable medications, and social stigma.

The Ghana Mental Health Policy and Plan calls for integrating mental health services into primary healthcare, with a focus on vulnerable populations such as pregnant and postpartum women. To improve maternal mental health care, national prioritization, high-level advocacy, multi-sectoral collaboration, and safeguarding the mental health of providers are essential. It is also crucial to ensure an adequate mix of skills and equitable distribution of healthcare workers capable of delivering mental health services, as well as improving physical access to these services.

As Mental Health Awareness Month concludes, the focus remains on the urgent need to enhance maternal mental health care in Ghana to prevent further tragedies and ensure the well-being of mothers and their children.

Source by Graphic Online