The Psychiatric Unit at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) is recording a worrying rise in mental health cases, with about 15,000 Out-Patient Department (OPD) cases reported annually.
Schizophrenia and postpartum depression are among the top 10 mental health conditions treated at the facility.
According to psychiatrists, what is even more concerning is that most of the cases involve persons between the ages of 25 and 40, an age bracket considered the country’s youthful and economically active workforce.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s Purple Month, Acting Head of the Psychiatric Unit, Dr. Ruth Owusu Antwi, lamented the increasing pressure on the facility amid limited infrastructure and resources.
Despite the surge in cases, she said the unit lacks adequate space to accommodate patients, leading to treatment delays and, in some cases, patients absconding before completing treatment, only to return in more severe conditions.
She therefore appealed for the swift completion of the psychiatric unit’s expansion project, which has stalled for nearly five years since construction began.
The Purple Month is launched to create awareness on mental health and promote preventive measures under the theme: “Mental Well-being for All: Turning Awareness into Action.”
Dr. Owusu Antwi stressed the urgent need for concrete interventions beyond awareness creation, emphasizing that mental health support must be strengthened to meet the growing burden of cases in the country.
“The theme talking about changing awareness into action is very important for us. We have seen that largely, people are becoming aware of mental health. This year, we are saying that it is not enough to become aware. Put the awareness into action.
“Take your own mental health seriously as a starting point and then look out for your family members and your colleagues. Do not stigmatise against people who are dealing with mental disorders. Help is available,” she said.
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