The Vice-Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Cape Coast, Dr. Paul Narh Doku says inadequate funding for mental health care, along with the increase in unemployment rate associated with the Covid-19 pandemic will lead to a wave of unaddressed mental health issues and suicides.

Addressing Psychiatric nurses at the Ankaful College of Nursing, Dr. Paul Narh Doku indicated that, the pandemic has led to an astronomical increase in depression, anxiety, stress and trauma-related symptoms.

He said this is having a toll on mental health delivery in the country and should receive the necessary attention.

Already, the pandemic has created some national and international challenges related to mental health with nearly 45 % of adults globally reporting that mental health care has worsened since the start of the pandemic.

Here in Ghana, directives including social distancing, isolation and quarantine have been associated with adverse mental health outcomes.

Backing this, Dr. Doku said the crave for space and distance to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 has led to the suspension of some services that the mental health nurses would require.

“Psychiatric in-patent units have responded to Covid-19 by suspending non-critical admissions, limiting psycho-therapeutic group sessions, among others.

"Again, patients are required to wear mask and gowns and even isolated in their own rooms.

“This may have increased risks because their services are suspended, pregnant patients with substance use disorders or psychiatric illness who may test positive for Covid-19, may require complicated and challenging care to optimize the prognosis for both the mother and the child,” he averred.

Dr. Paul Narh Doku said, apart from the trauma and stress-related symptoms, intimate partner violence, suicide, ideation and attempt and child abuse have been noted to be on the increase.

He added that many of the interventions, especially, those that are taking place at the psychiatric facilities negate the very intended benefits of in-patient care which is meant to promote social interactions and engagement in therapeutic sessions.

Other groups of patients impacted by Covid-19, he says, are patients with substance abuse and those with alcohol use disorders.

He is therefore urging psychiatric nurses in the country to put in place careful monitoring and harm reduction strategies as the situation could deteriorate if attention is not giving to the psychiatric institutions.

“Psychiatric mental health nurses play a crucial role in caring for patients with mental health problems during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"They are on the frontlines in the mental health settings and are experiencing a higher exposure to Covid-19, along with emotional distress and trauma during, and most likely after the pandemic, ” he added.

For him, nurses working across the care continuum are at an increased risk of exposure to Covid-19. He stated that such nurses may experience acute stress, post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma related symptoms.

Principal of the college, Simon Dogedoung enumerated some of the challenges the school is grappling with and called for some support to deal with them.

Accommodation for teaching and non-teaching staff, limited space for computer laboratory, and lack of transport for clinical supervision are a few of the challenges he mentioned.

Head of Local Government Service, Nana Ato Arthur, called for an increased effort in educating the masses on the adverse effect of Covid-19.