May: Advocating Mental Health Awareness in Ghana”
In a proactive move to elevate mental health awareness in Ghana, key stakeholders including the Ministry of Health, the Mental Health Authority, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and Lady Julia Osei Tutu, Life Patron of EVE International, are spearheading a groundbreaking initiative to designate May as Mental Health Awareness Month.
Recognizing the need for focused attention and to avoid being overshadowed by other global celebrations in October, the decision to highlight mental health in May aims to maximize impact and promote sustained awareness throughout the month.
Defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being,” mental health is rightfully acknowledged as an integral component of overall well-being. This initiative emphasizes the critical importance of mental health, echoing WHO’s assertion that “there is no health without mental health.”
The initiative also addresses the disproportionate burden of mental distress experienced by women, attributed to biological changes, societal pressures, unjust accusations, and systemic inequalities. Women, often subject to hormonal fluctuations, childbirth-related stress, witchcraft accusations, domestic abuse, and economic dependency, are particularly vulnerable to mental health challenges.
The urgent need to enhance access to quality mental health services, especially for women, underscores the imperative for comprehensive and effective mental health care in Ghana.
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