Stakeholders' perceptions of the main challenges facing Ghana's mental health care system: A qualitative analysis

dc.contributor.authorDoku, V.
dc.contributor.authorOfori-Atta, A.
dc.contributor.authorAkpalu, B.
dc.contributor.authorOsei, A.
dc.contributor.authorRead, U.
dc.contributor.authorCooper, S.
dc.date.accessioned2019-05-07T09:30:02Z
dc.date.available2019-05-07T09:30:02Z
dc.date.issued2011-06
dc.description.abstractMental health remains a low priority in Ghana. No comprehensive studies have assessed the current status of mental health policy, legislation and services in Ghana. This paper presents the qualitative results of a situation analysis conducted as part of the first phase of the Mental Health and Poverty Project. The aim of this paper was to explore what a range of stakeholders perceive as the main challenges facing Ghana's mental health system and the primary ways of addressing them. A total of 81 interviews and seven focus groups were held with key stakeholders drawn from five of the 10 regions in Ghana. The major challenges identified included: inadequate implementation of mental health policy; legislative limbo; inadequate human and financial resource; widespread stigma; dominance of psychiatric hospitals; and insufficient human rights protections for the mentally ill. A range of policy, legislative and service-related recommendations were made for addressing the situation. The results revealed that mental health services in Ghana need to scaled-up to respond to unmet needs in ways that are cost-effective within the budget of a low-income country. Enacting the current mental health bill and identifying strategies for overcoming the barriers to policy implementation will mark significant steps forward. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.en_US
dc.identifier.otherDOI: 10.1080/17542863.2010.503038
dc.identifier.otherVol.4(1): pp 8-22
dc.identifier.urihttp://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/handle/123456789/29839
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherInternational Journal of Culture and Mental Healthen_US
dc.subjectChallengesen_US
dc.subjectGhanaen_US
dc.subjectMental health systemen_US
dc.subjectQualitative studyen_US
dc.titleStakeholders' perceptions of the main challenges facing Ghana's mental health care system: A qualitative analysisen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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