By Savannah Pokuaah Duah
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental health disorder characterized by disruptions in thought processes, perceptions, and emotional responsiveness. Symptoms can include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and negative symptoms such as lack of motivation or social withdrawal.
Schizophrenia can significantly impact an individual’s ability to function in daily life, maintain relationships, and achieve their potential.
Acting Director of Pantang Hospital and Vice-President of the Psychiatric Association of Ghana, Dr. Yennusom Maalug, has highlighted the importance of addressing mental health in Ghana.
According to Dr. Maalug, many individuals struggling with mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, often face significant barriers to accessing care.
“Mental health is a major issue in Ghana, and we need to do more to support individuals struggling with these conditions,” Dr. Maalug said. One of the biggest challenges is the belief system. Some people believe that mental illness is caused by spiritual factors, witchcraft, or other supernatural forces.
Dr. Maalug emphasized the need for education and awareness to address these misconceptions and encourage individuals to seek medical help. “We need to appreciate the person’s belief system and try to explain to them and their family about the need for treatment,” he said.
The Mental Health Act 2012 (Act 846) has made efforts to bring non-orthodox and traditional faith-based healing groups on board to regulate and collaborate with them in providing care.
However, Dr. Maalug stated that more needs to be done to protect the human rights of individuals with mental illness. “Once we’ve brought these people on board, we are able to regulate human rights abuses, like chaining people with schizophrenia and confining them, locking them in rooms,” Dr. Maalug said.
Dr. Maalug also highlighted the possibility that some individuals taken to “witch’s camps” might be suffering from mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, rather than being witches.
“It is possible that somebody might have a mental illness, and based on their behaviour, people in the community might say that he or she is a witch,” he said.
