The Medical Director of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital has urged Ghanaians to be considerate when dealing with people with mental health conditions so they can be able to share their challenges with others.

Professor Akwesi Osei made this comment during the launch of the Medical Students Week Celebration organised by the University of Health and Allied Sciences.

He said, the concept of mental health and mental illness is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. 

He further explained that mental health is also a state of wellbeing in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities can cope with the normal stress of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.

He noted that even though mental illness does not necessarily kill, it reduces one's life span by 12-20 years.

He explained that the reduction of lifespan is normally due to neglect, discrimination, and marginalization by health workers treating the physical conditions of persons with mental illness.

According to him, poor mental conditions worsens physical conditions, and the consequences of mental illness is suicide or depression, among other things.

He urged the public to see it as a collective responsibility to help people with mental health issues and show them love and care so as to prolong their lifespan.

Mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities can cope with the normal stress of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community,” he said

Senior Lecturer and Consultant, Dr. Eugene Dordorye recommended that there should be an increase in awareness concerning mental health issues for the medical students.

He also called for an inclusion and emphasis on mental health during health screenings.

Dr. Eugene Dordoye also noted that a monitoring system to strengthen academic advisor–advise policy, students counseling center and peer support is also another area to be considered in regards to mental health.

The UHAS Medical Students Association President, Reginald Asante Birikorang noted that mental health is as important as physical health.

According to him, this is because mental health issues creep silently into the lives of people and take away their best years if not given the needed attention.

 “Looking back some years ago, the very recent story of one of our colleagues Joshua Opuni of UGMS who died from suicide as a result of a long term battle with depression [is why] we cannot deny mental health disease. “

He noted that these issues are on the rise amongst students and like others, there is the need to help create more awareness and access to mental health.

“We have run various awareness programs ranging from hepatitis, glaucoma, sickle cell disease and quite recently HIV. This year our flagship program will be to propagate to all that your mental health matters,“ Reginald Asante Birikorang said