The Total Life Enhancement Centre Ghana (TOLECGH), a mental health support organization has called for inclusion of people with lived experiences of mental health challenges in policymaking and service delivery to improve mental healthcare in the country.
It said the experiences of people, who had encountered depression, anxiety, trauma, substance-use problems, suicidal thoughts and other psychological difficulties, could provide valuable insights into the challenges confronting mental health systems and help shape effective interventions.
According to the Organization, incorporating their perspectives into mental health programmes, would help ensure that services were compassionate, culturally responsive, and tailored to the needs of affected individuals and their communities.
This was contained in a statement issued by TOLECGH, signed by Mr Peter Mintir Amadu, its Executive Director, and copied the Ghana News Agency in Tamale. to commemorate this year’s World Mental Health Day, under the theme: “Lived Experience Heard: Real Voices, Real Changes.”
The statement said mental health challenges in Ghana were often compounded by stigma, discrimination, poverty, trauma, social exclusion, family difficulties, and limited access to appropriate psychological and psychosocial support.
The fear of being judged, misunderstood, or labelled remained a significant barrier preventing many people from seeking professional help and that called for a shift from speaking about people experiencing mental health difficulties to actively listening to them and ensuring that their experiences informed decisions affecting their wellbeing.
The statement noted that people with lived experiences should not be treated merely as recipients of care but recognised as important contributors to the design, implementation, and evaluation of mental health services.
It therefore urged mental health professionals, policymakers, families, religious leaders, educators, civil society organisations, and community actors to create safe spaces where people could share their experiences without fear of stigma or discrimination.
The statement called for particular attention to children, adolescents, survivors of violence, people affected by trauma, individuals experiencing substance-use difficulties and other underserved groups, who might face additional barriers to accessing appropriate care.
Whiles noting that mental health interventions should reflect the realities of affected communities and provide support that responded to specific circumstances, it urged families and communities to respond to signs of psychological distress with empathy and understanding rather than judgement.
World Mental Health Day is observed annually on October 10 to raise awareness about mental health issues and mobilise efforts to support mental wellbeing.
