The Upper East Region of Ghana is grappling with a deepening mental health crisis, worsened by the absence of a state-owned mental health facility and the shortage of trained professionals. Most existing specialists are concentrated in district hospitals, leaving many cases untreated or mismanaged.
Between 2023 and the first quarter of 2025, the region recorded alarming figures: 509 cases of alcohol-related mental disorders, 557 cases of psychoactive substance use disorders, and 270 cases of bipolar disorders. Yet, cultural misconceptions and stigma—often framing mental illness as a curse—continue to hinder access to quality care.
Healing Wheels Project: Bringing Mental Health Care to the Doorsteps of Communities
To address these challenges, Public Health at Your Doorstep (Healing Wheels), an initiative founded by Gifty Atampugbire, a professional public health nurse and Mandela Washington Fellow, is leading the charge. With support from the United States Government, the project is equipping nurses across the Upper East Region with essential mental health first aid skills.
Training sessions have already expanded from 50 to 250 participants, attracting widespread interest among frontline health professionals.
“Out of the five northern regions, we don’t have a state-owned mental hospital. Meanwhile, the first point of contact is usually a nurse or midwife, yet many lack the skills to provide proper care. While we wait for these facilities, why not train the nurses?” – Gifty Atampugbire
The training empowers nurses to:
- Recognize early signs and symptoms of mental health challenges.
- Provide immediate, nonjudgmental support.
- Initiate conversations and ask the right questions.
- Refer patients to the appropriate mental health specialists.
International Support for Mental Health Training in Ghana
The project has also attracted international expertise. Felicia Mason-Edwards, Director of Mental Health Peer Support at Texas Health and Human Services (USA), who traveled to Ghana to assist, described the initiative as “an investment in dignity and the right to accessible mental health care.”
She stressed that if every health worker, from CHPS compounds to regional hospitals, is trained in mental health, it would reduce treatment gaps, prevent suicides, and improve overall health outcomes.
The Growing Urgency of Mental Health Care
The Ghana Mental Health Authority recently reported a 40% increase in suicide deaths nationwide in 2024, with 475 suicide attempts recorded in the first half of 2025 alone.
Health workers who participated in the training described it as transformative. Atanga Henrietta, a senior nursing officer in the Talensi District, shared:
“We used to fear approaching patients with mental health conditions. This training has changed our perspective. Instead of isolating or chaining them, we’ve learned how to engage and support them with dignity.”
Currently, nurses and health professionals from nine districts and municipalities in the Upper East Region are actively benefiting from the program.
A Call to Action
Mental health advocates, including Gifty Atampugbire, continue to call on the Government of Ghana and regional leaders to prioritize investment in mental health infrastructure and support initiatives like Healing Wheels.
“Mental health is a neglected area, yet it is becoming one of our biggest public health concerns. We need to fill this gap now, for the sake of our youth and the nation’s future workforce,” Atampugbire emphasized.
