Over 3.6m Ghanaians living with ‘madness’ …with only 38 psychiatrist doctors nationwide

Mr. Raphael Godlove Ahenu, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Media Foundation (GloMeF), has revealed that over 3.6 million Ghanaians are currently living with mental health conditions, while the country has only 38 psychiatrists available to provide specialised care.

According to him, approximately 600,000 people are living with severe mental health conditions, while an estimated 3 million others are affected by mild mental health challenges.

Mr. Ahenu made the remarks during the close-out and learning summit of the Resilient City for Adolescents (RCA) project held at Fiapre in the Sunyani West Municipality of the Bono Region.

Mr. Ahenu attributed the increasing prevalence of mental health conditions in Ghana to factors such as stress and socio-economic pressures, noting that many people continue to suffer in silence due to stigma and limited access to mental healthcare services.

“Research is showing the scale of Ghana’s mental health burden, and this is a clear indication that mental health must be treated as a national priority,” he said.

Only 38 Psychiatric Doctors

Mr. Ahenu also expressed concern about the shortage of mental health professionals in the country, noting that Ghana has only 38 psychiatric doctors serving millions of people.

“It is worrying that we have such a huge number of people facing mental health challenges, yet only a handful of specialists are available to help them,” he stated.

The GloMeF CEO urged authorities to expedite efforts to strengthen Ghana’s mental health framework, stressing that delays in implementing key mental health policies continue to hinder progress in the sector.

He  said more attention must be given to improving mental health services and protecting vulnerable populations,” he said.

Mr. Ahenu further emphasized the need for increased investment in the training, recruitment, and deployment of mental health professionals to address the growing demand for services.

He also called on families to pay closer attention to the emotional and psychological well-being of their children, warning that many early signs of mental distress often go unnoticed until conditions worsen.

“Some children exhibit behavioural changes that may indicate underlying mental health challenges, but these signs are often overlooked. Early intervention is critical in preventing mild conditions from developing into more severe cases,” he explained.

Mr. Ahenu advocated stronger collaboration among schools, healthcare professionals, families, and community-based organizations to ensure timely support and care for individuals facing mental health challenges.

He also encouraged greater involvement of young people in decision-making processes, saying their participation is essential to developing effective and inclusive mental health interventions.