Perceptions of Personhood, Spirituality, and Mental Illness Among Ewe and Akan Ethnic Groups in Ghana

Abstract

Understanding how cultural conceptions of personhood and spirituality shape attitudes toward mental illness is essential for developing inclusive mental health care in Ghana. This study examined how the Akan and Ewe conceptualize personhood and spirituality, and how these perspectives influence explanations, stigma, treatment practices, and health-seeking behaviours in relation to mental illness. Qualitative data were gathered using purposive sampling from 67 participants through in depth interviews (n = 11) and focus group discussions (n = 56), including chiefs, elders, adult men and women, and youth. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 80 years (M = 47.9, SD = 15.9). Data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis with three themes emerging: (1) conceptualizing personhood, (2) subjectivizing mental illness, and (3) implications for personhood in context. The findings indicate that personhood is a relational and spiritual construct grounded in communal roles, moral conduct, and spiritual vitality. Mental illness, often attributed to supernatural causes, was perceived to erode personhood by disrupting social identity and spiritual balance. The study highlights the need for culturally sensitive interventions and education that recognize local conceptions of personhood and spirituality while promoting dignity and inclusion for individuals living with mental illness.