The Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital has designated the month of May for Mental Health Awareness, dubbing it ‘Purple Month’.
This initiative aims to educate the public that mental health issues are medical conditions, not spiritual ones, and should be treated in hospitals rather than churches.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with ATL FM NEWS, a nurse with the Ankaful Community Psychiatric Unit, Mr. Stephen Ankapong advised that while spiritual beliefs are important, they should be considered after seeking professional medical intervention.
“Mental health problem has treatment; therefore no one should be alarmed and should not send any mental health issue to churches for intervention but rather seek hospital intervention”, he advised.
According to him, this year’s theme for the mental health awareness campaign is “Moving More for Our Mental Health,” emphasizing the benefits of exercise.
He stressed that exercise is beneficial to both individuals with hypertension and other physical conditions and essential for everyone to reduce stress and improve sleep quality.
Additionally, Mr. Stephen Ankapong revealed there are numerous mental health hospitals dedicated to treating individuals with such conditions.
However, “if a psychiatric unit determines a case beyond its capacity, the patient will be referred to a larger hospital for more comprehensive treatment,” he continued.
Mr. Stephen Ankapong also highlighted that statistically, 2 out of 10 people suffer from mental health issues, emphasising that mental health problems are not only evident in those who exhibit extreme behaviours but can also be evident in more subtle changes in actions and speech.
“This means that mental health issues are not only significant in people who go naked on the streets but can be evident in the actions and speech of people”, he said.
Meanwhile, Madam Justina Cobbinah, a nurse with the Ankaful Community Psychiatric Unit, revealed that the Purple Month celebration will climax on May 25, 2024, with a walk from the Metropolitan Assembly in town to the Cape Coast Stadium.
She said the event will feature activities such as aerobics and various games.
Madam Cobbinah appealed to corporate bodies and NGOs to support the programme, either financially or with kind contributions, to ensure its success.
“We have invited MPs, corporate bodies, Dignitaries, Police, Doctors and Nurses. We appeal to NGOs and Corporate bodies to support us in cash or kind”, she said.
Read also: 30-40% of people living with hypertension worldwide
Source: Comfort Sweety Hayford/ATLFMNEWS
