Accra: As Ghana marks World Mental Health Day 2025, the Mental Health Society of Ghana (MEHSOG) is calling for coordinated disaster response and policy reforms to protect vulnerable populations and align with global mental health standards. MEHSOG called for urgent integration of mental health services into Ghana’s emergency response systems, citing the psychological toll of disasters on both victims and frontline responders.
According to Ghana News Agency, the call was contained in a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of MEHSOG, Mr. Humphrey Matey Kofie, and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Friday, in commemoration of this year’s World Mental Health Day, which falls on October 10 every year. This year’s commemoration is being marked under the global theme, ‘Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies.’
The statement described the theme as ‘highly appropriate for the times we find ourselves in,’ and noted that mental health challenges often emerge or intensify during disasters and must be treated as a core component of humanitarian relief. ‘While basic needs and services are being mobilised for those affected, it is very important to be intentional about providing mental health services because they emphasise care, support, and healing,’ the statement said.
It cited global emergencies such as the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israeli-Hamas conflict, and regional wars in Sudan, DR Congo, and the Sahel, alongside natural disasters including earthquakes in the Philippines, floods in Haiti and Nigeria, an Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, and Typhoon Bualoi in Vietnam. ‘These events have led to mass casualties, displacement, and trauma,’ it said, referencing figures from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and NBC News that estimated hundreds of thousands of deaths and injuries across conflict zones.
The statement noted that in the Russia-Ukraine war alone, both sides have recorded thousands of soldiers being killed or wounded, while in the Israeli-Hamas conflict, more than 67,000 people have died in Gaza, with over two million displaced. It warned that psychological distress from such catastrophes could evolve into long-term mental disorders if left unaddressed.
He noted that managing disaster-induced mental disorders required specialised knowledge, skills, and competencies, and called for deliberate efforts to strengthen mental health systems. The statement said Ghana had not been exempted from emergencies and listed recent tragedies including the helicopter crash that claimed eight lives, ethnic conflicts in Gbiniyiri that left 31 dead and displaced nearly 50,000 people, with over 13,000 fleeing to C´te d’Ivoire.
Other disasters it mentioned included the Akosombo dam spillage, flooding in Ga South Municipality, and the Apeatse explosion, which caused deaths, destruction of property, and tens of thousands of people to be displaced from their homes. The statement commended the Mental Health Authority (MHA), Ghana Psychological Association, and Psychiatric Association of Ghana for providing services during these emergencies despite limited resources.
He also acknowledged the contributions of NADMO, Ghana Health Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Ambulance Service, and other security agencies, but however, warned that without a coordinated approach, mental health services risked being sidelined or underutilized. The statement also raised alarm over the environmental and mental health implications of illegal mining, saying, ‘We strongly support its abolishment and call for proactive steps to strengthen and reinforce mental health guidelines to prepare and respond to emergencies.’
MEHSOG, together with its partners called on MHA and NADMO to develop a national policy guide and practice manual for mental health service delivery during emergencies. It called for increased investment in mental health services, capacity building for frontline workers, and timely psychosocial support, describing these not as optional extras, but as lifesaving interventions that enable individuals and communities to recover, rebuild, and move forward with resilience.