Experiences of Nurses Caring for Children with Mental Illness at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital

Abstract

Mental health care is gaining momentum on the agenda of many governments internationally. Nurses who care for patients specifically, children in the psychiatric hospitals work extremely busy and in high pressured environment and are faced with a challenge of having to deal with children who suffer from complex mental disorders. The study sought to explore the experiences of nurses caring for children at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital guided by the biopsychosocial model. The descriptive exploratory qualitative design was used to guide the study. Fifteen nurses took part in face-to-face in-depth interviews and data was analysed using the thematic content analysis approach. The nurses working in the children’s ward at Accra Psychiatric Hospital face significant physical, social, and psychological challenges. Poor working conditions, frequent patient aggression, stigma, and emotional strain are common, although positive aspects such as teamwork and professional growth through collaboration were also reported. These findings highlight the urgent need for better institutional support, resource provision, and mental health services to ensure the safety and well-being of psychiatric nurses. It is recommended that hospital management should improve physical working conditions for nurses on thew wards by upgrading infrastructure through the expansion of the children’s ward and office spaces to reduce overcrowding and improve ventilation and hygiene.