Accra – The Mental Health Authority (MHA) has officially designated May as Mental Health Awareness Month in Ghana, launching the initiative under the banner of “Purple Month.” This strategic move by the MHA aims to significantly raise public awareness about mental health issues and actively combat the pervasive stigma associated with them across the nation.

 

Professor Pinaman Appau, Chief Executive Officer of the MHA, spearheaded the launch of this crucial campaign. The “Purple Month” initiative seeks to amplify and sustain a unified national voice dedicated to advocating for mental wellness. This aligns Ghana with international best practices, mirroring similar designations in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, where May is also recognized as a month dedicated to mental health awareness.

 

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This initiative builds upon Ghana’s existing commitment to mental health, highlighted by its annual observance of World Mental Health Day on October 10th, an event established globally in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health.

The launch event in Accra adopted the theme: “Movement: Moving more for our mental health,” underscoring the vital connection between physical activity and psychological well-being.

 

The “Purple Month” campaign is a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Health, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and Lady Julia Osei Tutu, the Life Patron of EVE International. A comprehensive schedule of activities has been planned for May, including initiatives focused on maternal mental health awareness, school engagement programs on mental health and well-being, community outreach initiatives across five districts in the Eastern Region, partnerships with organizations to promote workplace mental health education, and a public health walk.

 

Estelle Appiah, the Board Chairperson of the Mental Health Authority, emphasized the significant impact of regular physical activity on mental health, citing numerous studies that demonstrate its transformative effects on mood, stress levels, and brain structure. She stated that “it also serves as a natural, yet potent antidote to depression, anxiety and stress.”

 

While acknowledging the government and stakeholders’ commitment to prioritizing mental well-being through the enactment of the Mental Health Act, 2012 (Act 846) and the establishment of the MHA, Madam Appiah highlighted the ongoing challenges of securing sustainable funding for mental health promotion and addressing the shortage of human resources within the sector.

 

“We must invest in inclusive programmes, policies and legislation,” she urged. “Currently, the board is engaged in post-legislative scrutiny of the Mental Health Act to ensure its responsiveness to mental health challenges in the country, 10 years post-enactment.”

 

Concluding with a call to action, Madam Appiah stated, “Let’s create a wave of movement that propels us towards a future where mental well-being is not only a possibility, but a reality for all.”

 

Professor Pinaman Appau, Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Authority, played a key role in launching this important “Purple Month” Mental Health Awareness Campaign.