Exploring the nature of treatment regimen for mentally ill persons by neo-prophetic ministers in Ghana

Abstract

As Ghana seeks to improve mental healthcare services delivery, there is a heightened discourse regarding the role religious groups can play in the process. Whilst there is a general admission that there can be collaborative framework with faith-based treatments toward a holistic delivery of mental healthcare, the anxieties concerning the unverifiable nature of their services and reported abuses of patients appears to hamper this collaboration. In an attempt to carefully delineate and bring to the fore the role of religious groups in mental health, 12 clergy from a specific Christian strand called the neo-prophetic Christian ministries (or churches) were interviewed. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, findings show that these clergy view mental illness as a spiritual problem rather than a biomedical one. The treatments they prescribe for mental illness fall within two major approaches: the hope induction approach and the prophetic deliverance approach. Assessment of cure of illness involves observation of restored orientation, self-care and community participation and perceived complete exorcism. We conclude that Christian groups are actively involved in mental healthcare delivery and that policy can focus on sanitizing and improving these services into mainstream mental healthcare services in Ghana. © 2014 Taylor & Francis.