In Ghana, mental health care is being reshaped through long-term collaboration with the World Health Organization’s Special Initiative for Mental Health.
Launched in 2021, this initiative aims to bring quality, people-centred mental health care to more than 5.2 million Ghanaians by strengthening local health systems, training primary care workers, and ensuring early detection of common disorders. �
Government and partners have also worked to include mental health support under the national health insurance scheme to reduce financial barriers, though access gaps remain. Community-level psychosocial support is increasingly available, and health officials say strengthening partnerships with civil society and persons with lived experience is central to sustained progress. �
Nonetheless, challenges persist: treatment coverage remains low and cultural stigma often leads people to seek informal support from religious or traditional healers before professional help. �
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