ºÚÁÏÍø

Abstract

Basic Needs-Ghana implements the model for mental health and development in Ghana where the model�s string focus on community mental health is being developed to promote access to mental health treatment services. In addition to developing community based treatment services, the model also emphasizes social and economic empowerment of women, men and youth with mental illness to enable them become active participants in their communities. Alongside public awareness raising and policy influencing mental health care treatment services have been integrated into general health care at the Primary Health Care (PHC) level in Ghana. This is a significant experience by Basic Needs-Ghana that we seek to share with stakeholders in mental health as widely as possible. This presentation traces the significant milestones of promoting and integrating mental health care in to general health care, social welfare and related pro-poor/social protection schemes to help women, men and youth with mental illness live and work successfully in their families and communities. It is an example of successful approach to achieving health and wellbeing of poor and vulnerable people in resource constraint settings, particularly in an environment where formal mental health care was overwhelming institutionalized. The objectives of this presentation are to document significant successes and challenges in the processes to engagements to developing community mental health, to stimulate and motivate actors in the mental health policy and services development in their efforts and set basis for further research into potentials, benefits and challenges of developing community mental health care systems.

Biography

Email: peter.yaro@basicneeds.org