Stakeholders' perceptions of the main challenges facing Ghana's mental health care system: a qualitative analysis

Doku, V., Ofori-Atta, A., Akpalu, B., Osei, A., Read, U. and Cooper, S. (2011) Stakeholders' perceptions of the main challenges facing Ghana's mental health care system: a qualitative analysis. International Journal of Culture and Mental Health, 4(1), pp. 8-22. (doi: 10.1080/17542863.2010.503038)

Abstract

Mental health remains a low priority in Ghana. No comprehensive studies have assessed the current status of mental health policy, legislation and services in Ghana. This paper presents the qualitative results of a situation analysis conducted as part of the first phase of the Mental Health and Poverty Project. The aim of this paper was to explore what a range of stakeholders perceive as the main challenges facing Ghana's mental health system and the primary ways of addressing them. A total of 81 interviews and seven focus groups were held with key stakeholders drawn from five of the 10 regions in Ghana. The major challenges identified included: inadequate implementation of mental health policy; legislative limbo; inadequate human and financial resource; widespread stigma; dominance of psychiatric hospitals; and insufficient human rights protections for the mentally ill. A range of policy, legislative and service-related recommendations were made for addressing the situation. The results revealed that mental health services in Ghana need to scaled-up to respond to unmet needs in ways that are cost-effective within the budget of a low-income country. Enacting the current mental health bill and identifying strategies for overcoming the barriers to policy implementation will mark significant steps forward.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Read, Dr Ursula
• Authors: Doku, V., Ofori-Atta, A., Akpalu, B., Osei, A., Read, U., and Cooper, S.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
• Journal Name: International Journal of Culture and Mental Health
• ISSN: 1754-2863
• ISSN (Online): 1754-2871