Children are already vulnerable. When a humanitarian crisis caused by conflict, natural disaster or displacement hits, their mental health remains one of the issues often overlooked in the scramble for food, clothing and shelter.
The long-term impact of this neglect cannot be ignored.
As the World Mental Health Day lurks around the corner (October 10), the theme for the year seeks to draw critical attention to the urgent need to support children’s emotional and psychological well-being in humanitarian crisis.
This theme is also relevant, considering that the nation is currently recovering from a conflict in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region.
What we know is that this conflict is a land dispute that led to many inhabitants, especially women and children numbering up to about 48,000, fleeing their homes.
They fled to other towns and some went as far as the Bounkani Region in Cote d’Ivoire for safety.
About 44 schools were shut down and 5,000 school pupils were displaced with teachers nowhere to be found.
To support these children, temporary classrooms were set up with learning materials in displacement camps.
The basic necessities of life including clean water, sanitary pads, soap, masks etc., which are especially critical for children’s hygiene and health in camps were supplied by both governmental and non-governmental organisations.
While the peace committee set up by the government is brokering peace, many of the inhabitants have been encouraged to return home under strict safety measures.
Mental health
In the middle of such mayhem, this year’s World Mental Health Day theme seeks to throw the spotlight on the mental health of children which is often not a priority.
It should not only be merely mentioned that government bodies promise to provide psychosocial support to displaced children.
Concrete details about the actions being taken are necessary to assure the public that measures are really being taken not only to meet physical needs of the children.
Provisions must be made for psychosocial services.
It must be clear which professionals are being deployed.
This includes trained psychologists, counselors or social workers specifically deployed into the camps or displacement settings for children.
There must be structured trauma-informed counseling programmes running for children individually or in groups.
In addition to classrooms, there should preferably be dedicated child-friendly spaces in the camps where children can play, socialise, express trauma in art, stories and to also interact with trusted adults.
These help restore routines, offer opportunity for emotional expression, and reduce trauma symptoms through shared comfort.
Older children can further be supported and trained to act as peer counselors or for group activities such as art, music and storytelling.
This brings healing to these older ones as they also help younger children process their experiences.
Psychological first aid
Volunteer helpers can also be trained in psychological first aid to enable them spot distress, reassure children and to flag symptoms requiring referrals.
It is necessary to train and engage adults and caregivers in the lives of these children on how to keep the temporal home and environment stable for these children.
Displaced children deserve an uneventful return home and a smooth transition as they resume school.
Their fears and anxieties must be expected and dealt with.
They should be followed up to ensure their re-integration is successful.
Wounds left by trauma are not visible. That does not mean they do not run deep.
As we observe World Mental Health Day 2025, let us commit to ensuring that every child caught in crisis—whether in Ghana or anywhere else—is seen, heard and supported.
Their healing is not a luxury; it is a necessity for building resilient, peaceful communities.
The writer is a Child development expert/ Fellow of the Zero-To-Three Academy, USA.
E-mail: nanaesi.gaisie@wellchildhaven.com
