Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, former Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has raised alarms over the escalating mental health crisis in the country. Speaking on the pressing issue, Prof. Akosa highlighted that many families are uncertain about how to manage members suffering from mental health conditions.

“Mental health has become a significant issue in Ghana,” he noted. “Families with members experiencing mental health problems often don’t know what to do.” Prof. Akosa, who is also a renowned cellular pathologist and lifestyle wellness consultant, emphasized that mental health issues frequently progress to depression, a condition that many people fail to recognize.

He explained, “When it starts with depression, many people do not recognize it. Even those that are bipolar are often the life and soul of parties.” This observation underscores the insidious nature of mental health problems, making it difficult for individuals to determine what is normal.

Prof. Akosa also pointed out the deadly impact of loneliness, supported by recent evidence, and criticized the societal shift away from the extended family system due to economic reasons. “Currently, all evidence shows that loneliness kills. In this country, we are shying away from our extended family system because of economic reasons. We are all running away from family responsibilities. But once upon a time, we had group participation, group eating, group everything,” he lamented.

Prof. Akosa's insights bring to light the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to mental health in Ghana, emphasizing the importance of recognizing early signs of mental illness and maintaining strong familial and social support systems to combat loneliness and its detrimental effects.

Source by Graphic Online