Dr. Frank Baning, the director of Pantang Hospital, has declared that the facility will work with other stakeholders to publish information about families that bring their relatives to the hospital and then abandon them after they have been treated.
The director observed that numerous families forsake their loved ones upon bringing them to the facility for treatment.
He attributed the situation to myths and misconceptions surrounding mental health issues.
Dr. Baning posited that several mentally ill persons are doing exceptionally well compared to persons who claim to be sane persons.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 2024 World Mental Health Day Durbar at the forecourt of the hospital, Dr. Frank Baning expressed worry at the stigma surrounding mental health.
He underscored the need for stakeholders in the health sector to intensify advocacy, public education, and sensitisation to help address stigma.
‘’The myths and misconceptions about mental health have made the fight against stigmatisation so difficult. But mental health conditions can be likened to any other health conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, among others. There are people who have mental health conditions who are doing exceptionally well because they are taking their medications as prescribed. Indeed, several of them are doing better than the so-called sane people. So we have to deal with the stigma, educate the people, and create awareness,’’ he said.
He said in dealing with families that bring their relatives to the facility and abandon them, the hospital has adopted a new approach where it treats the patients and returns them to their families.
He revealed that the hospital maintains a record of family members’ details obtained from their Ghana card, thereby facilitating the tracing of families and the safe return of treated patients.
To achieve this, the facility is collaborating with the Social Welfare, Community Psychiatric Nurses, the local assembly, and other stakeholders.
He also announced that the hospital will start publishing such details in collaboration with the Daily Graphic Newspaper, GBC, and other media houses.
‘’We will collaborate with the GBC, Daily Graphic, and other media houses in publishing such details. When we clear mentally challenged persons from the streets and we treat them, we will publish their details in the media so their families will trace them and come for them,’’ he added.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
