Activities / Highlights VALLEY VIEW ADVENTIST HOSPITAL (VVAH), (GHANA) COMFORT AGYEKUM BOATENG P.O. BOX 183, TECHIMAN, GHANA Email. comaboateng@gmail.com MENTAL HEALTH UNIT Introduction Activities / Highlights ”Mental health care in Ghana is one of the worst on the continent [Africa] and needs critical attention” (Dr. Osei). There are few mental health care facilities and few clinicians and trained researchers. This gap which seems to have affected the foundations of families and society (esp. in the region), forced the need to establish the mental health unit at VVAH. There are 2 mental health workers – 1 Psychiatric Nurse; 1 Technical Officer. Weekly home visits: Monday – Wednesday; Consultations on Thursdays. Visits to patients at traditional and faith based centers. Mental health talks in churches, schools and other public gatherings. Collaborate with public health unit in outreach programs. Run seminars for mental health professionals and public to create awareness on need to report early. Patient chained to a tree – some traditional/ faith-based mental home practice. History VVAH was opened in September 2016. Mental health unit started in November 2017 with no space for staff and patients. Started with 1 loaned mental health nurse, visiting once a week. No regular client follow-ups led to many defaulters and loss of clients. Health talk: Mental health day at OPD Nurse attends to mental health patient. Mission To improve the quality of mental healthcare in the Brong-Ahafo region by pursuing the spiritual, physical, psychological and social well being of patients. Statistical Summary Future Goals Total population in Ghana – 27 million. No. of people with mental disorders – 10% (2.7 mil.) Severe mental disorders – 24% (650,000) of 2.7 mil. Moderate/mild disorders – 76% (2.1 million) of 2.7 mil. Note! – only 3% of the total 2.7 mil. receive treatment. Treatment gap is about 97% of the total 2.7 million. Brong-Ahafo cases in 2017 – 30,000 (1% of 27 million). VVAH had seen 150 patients (0.006% of 2.7 mil.) from Jan. to Sept. 2018 (averagely 17 patients each month). Construct well resourced mental health unit. (e.g. Psychiatric Observation Ward with Ambulance). Train additional nurses for the unit. Intensify weekly home visits. Increase frequency of public seminars and awareness. Increase client visits to VVAH from 17 to 70 each month. Build a mortuary.