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The Departments of Psychiatry at Tema General Hospital and Manhean Clinic have seen a significant increase in the number of new enrollees (first time visit) at the facilities in 2020.
The two facilities registered a total of 389 new registrants in 2020 compared to 185 previous registrants.
Tema Metro’s Community Psychiatry Coordinator Pious Tay revealed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview on Monday.
According to him, the increase in new registrations was an indication that the public appreciated the fact that a visit to the psychiatry department did not mean that “one was crazy while managing other illnesses.”
He said the unit over the past two to three years had stepped up its education and public awareness on mental issues, which he said was paying off.
Mr. Tay urged people with mental problems to visit the hospital for necessary care, even when receiving alternative treatment, including spiritual ones.
Meanwhile, data from the units showed that a total of 1,992 visits and reviews were seen at the respective facilities.
While 168 people from the registrants reported schizophrenia or schizotypal and delusional disorders, 58 had depression, 29 bipolar disorders, 73 epilepsy / seizures, and 25 had dementia.
Others were four delusions, 16 alcohol abuse mental disorders, six autism, 55 psychoactive substance use mental disorders and seven personality disorders.
In the Metropolis, 11 pregnancy-related mental disorders were registered, while 20 anxiety disorders, 81 unspecified mental disorders and 9 mental retardation, developmental mental disorders and other childhood mental disorders were treated.
Tay said that in 2020 psychiatric officials visited 347 homes, organized 376 health talks, 31 visits to faith-based healing centers and 22 school health programs, among others.
He called on authorities and organizations to help address some of the challenges the units face, including a lack of vehicles and funding for transportation during various community activities.
