Human Resource practitioners have been urged to push for an increase in  investments geared towards the mental well-being of employees.

According to the Hospital Director at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, Dr. Kojo Boafo Obeng, the continued relegation of mental health of employees at workplaces is inimical to the success and vision of companies.

He stressed the need to adopt new strategies to address mental health challenges.

He said the integration of EEG technology with Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) machines is expected to revolutionise the treatment of mental health conditions, particularly for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and new fathers dealing with postpartum depression or psychosis.

“Traditionally, patients requiring treatment may have to wait up to a month for medication to stabilise their condition before they can safely breastfeed or care for their infants. But now the ECT can significantly reduce this waiting period to just one week, enabling families to reunite and heal more swiftly. We need to prioritize mental health at out workplaces because its very key to ensure sustainaility”

At the donation ceremony held at the hospital last Friday, Nii Ankonu Annorbah-Sarpei, Programmes Manager of the KGL Foundation, underscored the critical need for support at the facility.

“Over the years, we have recognised that this facility requires substantial support,” he stated. 

In order to support sustainability and energy efficiency, the foundation promised to contribute half a million Ghana cedis to the project, which will involve installing solar panels and renovating a number of hospital units.

“The KGL Foundation is committed to renovating several units within the hospital to create a more conducive environment for mental health care,” Mr Annorbah-Sarpei revealed.

He also expressed the foundation’s goal to establish a dedicated space that would position the facility as a leading mental health centre in Ghana.

The KGL Foundation is promoting the Mental Health Index (MHI), a digital initiative launched in April 2023 to raise awareness, demystify myths and provide resources on mental health issues in Ghana.

The MHI has already been piloted in several second-cycle schools and offers free self-help activities through its website, www.mentalhealthindex.com.gh. 

Mr Obeng urged the foundation to develop the MHI into a mobile app to cater for younger generations, who are more inclined towards app-based access over traditional websites.