News
Ghana Youth Mental Health Survey begins October 9
In Ghana, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2020 estimated that about nine per cent of the population had some form of mental health issue, largely behavioural health-related especially among the youth.
Also, in 2022, a survey of Junior High School (JHS) students in the Greater Accra Region, (on suicide risk prevalence of JHS students in Greater Accra) revealed that one out of five students has experienced suicide ideation in the last 12 months.
There is therefore a critical need for comprehensive research on the mental health of Ghanaian adolescents to inform effective interventions and policies.
Consequently, starting October 9, the Ghana Youth Mental Health Survey (GYMHS), would be conducted across some regions of the country, to ascertain the mental health of Ghanaian adolescents and recommend solutions.
Led by US-based Ghanaian Assistant Professor at the University of Buffalo, New York, Dr Enoch Azasu, the study would be conducted in the Greater Accra, Volta, Eastern, Ashanti, Central and some Northern regions.
It will end on Friday, October 18 in the Ashanti Region.
According to Prof. Azasu, it was crucial to engage in this survey in order to support the mental well-being of the Ghanaian youth.
With support from the University of Buffalo School of Social Work, University of Ghana Department of Psychiatry, Youth Awake to Mental Health Ghana and Central University, the GYMHS, he explained, would be a nationally representative study designed to comprehensively understand the mental health status, risk factors, protective factors and the resource utilisation among JHS students in Ghana.
The survey, he added, would fall on the back of the 2022 study which found several socio-ecological and psychological correlations for suicide thoughts and behaviour which included suicide stigma, sexual intercourse, dating, hunger, substance use, stress, anxiety and depression.
He said, it was also essential to make the subject of mental health very common within society in order to nip the canker in the bud.
The survey he said, would highlight the gaps in mental health support systems and identify effective strategies for improving access to mental health resources in schools and communities.
He called on all stakeholders especially within the education sector to support the survey which would go a long way to safeguard the future of the Ghanaian youth.
“By supporting the GYMHS, schools can help gather valuable data that will provide a clearer understanding of mental health challenges faced by students. This survey will not only inform policy and intervention strategies but also ensure that the voices of young people are heard,” he stated.
By Michael D. Abayateye
Minister for the Interior, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, has confirmed that former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, is in prison and serving her jail term.
Speaking in an interview on Joy news, Mr. Muntaka dismissed claims that the former MASLOC boss was being held in a private location.
He said she has been in the custody of the state since she returned to Ghana.
“From the day Sedina came, she has been with us, and she’s serving her time,” he said.
The minister explained that the public is not usually told the specific prison where inmates, especially high-profile persons, are being held for security reasons.
He said even judges who sentence offenders do not necessarily know the specific prison where they are sent.
“If you want to visit her, you can write to the Prisons Service. They will talk to her, and if she is interested in you coming, she will let you come,” Mr. Muntaka stated.
According to him, disclosing the location of high-profile inmates could put their lives at risk, adding that some developed countries also keep such information confidential for security purposes.
His comments come amid public speculation over the whereabouts of Ms. Tamakloe Attionu following reports that she had returned to Ghana to begin serving her prison sentence.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Western Regional Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), ACFO I Cecil Addo, has completed a familiarization tour of major corporate and industrial institutions across the Western Region to strengthen partnerships and enhance fire safety preparedness.
The tour covered key organizations including the Bank of Ghana, GOIL PLC, Ghanstock, Western Terminals, Zen Terminal, Keda Ceramics, Takoradi International Company (TICO), Volta River Authority (VRA), Harlequin Oil and Gas, and Western Serene Atlantic Hotel.
During the engagements, the Regional Commander encouraged management of the institutions to prioritize proactive fire prevention measures by incorporating strict safety protocols into their daily operations.
Discussions also focused on improving fire readiness and strengthening collaboration between GNFS and the corporate sector.
As part of the initiative, GNFS presented firefighting equipment, including Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) extinguishers, as well as Fire Extinguishing Balls, to support workplace safety.
The institutions expressed appreciation for the outreach and pledged to support regular safety audits, joint emergency drills, and potential Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partnerships with the Service.
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