Former Chairman of the Mental Health Board, Professor J.B Asare is calling on government to include mental health in the education curriculum at all levels.
He said this will help most students to overcome their depression or mental health challenges.
In a Panel discussion on mental health issues to mark mental Heath day in Accra, Prof. Asare noted that most people are not aware of counselor who can help in the situation.
Hence the introduction of mental health in schools will help create the maximum awareness that the country needs.
World Mental Health Day is observed to raise awareness of mental related illness.
This year focused on suicide prevention hence the theme working together to prevent suicide; a call for national action. Globally about eight hundred people take their lives every year.
Taking his tirn in a panel discission, former chairman mental health board prof J.B Asare expressed worry about the situation especially among students.
This he said is as a result of most students knowing less about the issue.
He therefore called on the government to visit schools to create awareness.
Adding that it is necessary to include it in the education curriculum at all levels to help reduce it.
A lecturer at the university of Ghana Dr. Augustina Naami also called for an end to stigmatisation and cultural discrimination against mental health patients particularly those suffering from psychosocial disorder.
The Country representative of the WHO Owen Kaluwa urged the government and the public to see mental health as a shared responsibility
The Executive Director of basic needs Ghana Peter Yaro also noted that government has a moral and legal obligation to safeguard the human rights of its citizens especially those affected with mental health illness.
He also emphasised the need to ensure that persons wo attempt suicide and survivors of loss to suicide are supported with required services but not crimimalising suicide.
Story filed by Bridget Amewudo
