The Mental Health Authority (MHA) has emphasised the need for mandatory mental health screening as part of Ghana’s healthcare system to help identify and manage psychological conditions early.

This call was made during Ghana’s commemoration of World Mental Health Day, marked under the theme “Psychological Safety: Children and Adults, Catastrophes and Emergencies in Focus.”

The event, dubbed “The Wholesome Mind Experience,” brought together health experts, government representatives, and international partners to discuss the country’s mental health priorities.

Speaking in an interview, Dr. Vivian Maame Aba Dadzie, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the MHA, underscored the importance of early detection and intervention in addressing mental health challenges.

“We have realised that early detection is key.

If we are not able to detect mental health issues earlier on, it can lead to people going into extreme forms of mental distress, and that is costly and expensive to treat,” she said.

Dr. Dadzie urged that mental health screening be integrated into all levels of health service delivery, especially during emergency response situations, to ensure individuals in distress receive timely support.

Adding his voice, Maxwell Emmanuel Ligbey, Director of Man-made Disasters at NADMO, noted that mental health support remains one of the least prioritised aspects of disaster management.

“Because it is not very visible, you don’t see the response to mental health on the burner.

That is one gap, and so you don’t get finances to it,” he lamented.

A World Health Organisation (WHO) representative, Dr. Joana Ansong, also revealed that only a handful of African countries have integrated mental health and psychosocial services into their disaster preparedness frameworks.

“Data shows that only 11 countries in the African sub-region have mental health and psychosocial components as part of their national disaster preparedness, as the WHO framework mandates,” she disclosed.

As Ghana joins the world in observing Mental Health Day, the MHA is encouraging the public to prioritise mental well-being and show empathy towards others.

The Authority reminded Ghanaians that sometimes, a simple question like “How are you coping?” can be the first step toward saving a life