Between January and December last year, the Accra Psychiatric Hospital received 731 mental related cases, with nearly 90 per cent of the number being pupils of basic schools. Statistics given by the hospital indicate that 388 of the patients were from first cycle schools, 265 in second cycle, 37 in tertiary institutions and 41 non-students. Dr Akwasi Osei, Medical Director of the hospital, told the Times that within the first quarter of this year, the hospital recorded 184 mental cases comprising 94 in the first cycle, 69 in second cycle, 12 in tertiary and nine non-students. A total of 124 of the patients were diagnosed with cannabis addiction, 42 alcohol, two cocaine addicts, one heroine and 15 with a mix of the drugs diagnosed. He said because of the stigma associated with mental illness, people do not want to report such cases at the early stages for treatment. Dr Osei said the delay in reporting cases compounds the problem and makes treatment more difficult. He said the psychiatric hospital itself is seen by many as a neglected institution. "Even policy makers only consider the psychiatric hospital as an after thought," he stated and added that it is not only a problem with Ghanaians but a world wide phenomenon. Dr Osei expressed concern about the level of ignorance regarding the harmful effects of alcohol on people. Alcohol causes both mental and other physical health hazards such as liver, heart and pancreas problems," he said. He said there is scientific proof that 10 per cent of all alcoholics worldwide cannot stop drinking no matter how best they try because such people have genes coded in such a way that they cannot stop drinking. The Accra Psychiatric Hospital currently has a patient population of 1,100. Source: The Ghanaian Times