According to the minister, 41% of Ghanaians have psychological distress ranging from mild, moderate or severe. The development Agyeman Manu stated costs the nation about 7% of its GDP.
Responding to a question on the floor of Parliament in the name of MP for Sege, Christian Corletey Otuteye on plans by the Health Ministry to address the plight of persons with Mental Health problems, Mr Manu stated that the government has rolled out measures to improve mental health care in the country but the challenge has been funding.
“The WHO estimates that 10 per cent of the population of Ghana have one form of mental disorder or the other thus with an estimated 31 million population in Ghana we have an estimated 3.1 million with mental disorders.
“It is also clearly established that 41 per cent of Ghanaians have psychological distress, mild, moderate of severe and this costs the nation 7 per cent GDP loss.”
The Health Minister further said that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, is putting in place actions to ensure that mental health is treated throughout the country and that it is accessible to all.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
