a few words about us
A healthy population is a wealthy population. Mental health is total health. It is a right and a goal and it is, indeed, central to the socioeconomic development of a country. The first Mental Health Policy for Ghana was developed in 1994 revised in 1996 and since then significant changes have occurred in the global, national and health sector landscapes which have impacted on mental health. It is six years since the Mental Health Act, 2012 (Act 846) was enacted culminating in the establishment of the Mental Health Authority (MHA). A lot of progress has since been made in the delivery of mental health services in the country though many challenges persist. It is within this context that this new policy has been developed. The policy views mental health as an important indicator of the health status of the people living in the country. While focusing on community care, the policy sets out the new direction for the general improvement in the quality of mental health of the citizenry. In addition it maps out the institutional framework for its implementation. The policy details a programme to complete the establishment of governance structures like the Mental Health Tribunal, Visiting Committees, District Mental Health Subcommittees and appointment of District Mental Health Coordinators. With the establishment of these structures the Authority can fully implement the provisions of the Mental Health Act including ensuring human rights compliance.