Taking The Stigma Out of Mental Health

Melton Fellows In Accra

In the past, mental health in Ghana has been a seldom-discussed topic, it makes people uncomfortable. Currently, there is an estimated treatment gap of 98%; meaning that, for every 100 people suffering a mental illness, only 2 are likely to access treatment; this data does not keep in mind the number of unreported cases. According to the Executive Director of the Mental Health Authority, the doctor-to-patient ratio within the mental health setting of Ghana is 1 : 1.7 million.

For university students, there are unique pressures regarding performance and in light of recent cultural shifts in discussing mental health among youth. Melton Fellows at Ashesi University College (Ghana) set the ground work for students at their campus to build and maintain relationships between students and the mental health resources available on campus.