TOTAL HEALTH IS THE REAL HEALTH
Mental health is a major concern worldwide and Ghana is not far behind in sharing this. Evaluating developments in the field of mental health worldwide, the pace appears to be slow. Dr. Brock Chisholm, the first Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), in 1954, had presciently declared that “without mental health there can be no true physical health." Regardless of such sensitive statement, the needed attention has never been given to mental health for more than 65 years now. The prompt focus is always directed towards physical ailments of less attention given to mental illness. I may say this is due to inability to fathom the means of total health.
Ghana as a developing country has a slow progress in mental health service delivery. The country evaluation of poor service production declining the economy and other aspects of her life has neglect the contribution of Mental Health. Mentally healthy people are able to develop, grow and thrive, and make a contribution at home, work, school and in their community. We cannot as a country, institutions, organizations, religious groups, families, and individuals achieve self actualization without Good Mental Health. We cannot attain the needed physical health which had been our only priority without Good Mental Health. Mental health is about feeling safe and emotionally well, being able to handle stress and having a sense of responsibility and able to deliver and belonging. Indeed mental health is an integral and essential component of health. Total health a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being for all people and that is the real wealth all should seek!
By James Ohene Andoh
MEHSAG -CoHK DEPT. ACADEMIC CHAIRMAN