Mental health disorders and free treatment: NHIS to the rescue

The topic of mental health has been visible in the media for some months now and quite rightly so.

Experts have done a lot to draw attention to this debilitating health issue. They have cautioned that it can affect anyone, young and old, male and female, rich or poor.  

Regrettably, it is one area of health that is grossly ignored, misunderstood or underestimated and thus least taken care of as one would do with physical health.

With the Mental Health Act 846 of 2012 firmly in place and a Mental Health Board also fully operative, we should all, therefore, be concerned and under fire to ensure that just as one pays attention to and spends time and finances to keep fit and well physically, one should see wellness as an all-rounded condition. It should be in totality, an encompassing one covering both body and mind.

Just a few weeks ago when I had the opportunity to chat with Rev. Dr. Joseph Kofi Aidoo, a Psychiatric Specialist with the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, on gambling addiction and its consequential effect on mental health, I have since had a particular interest in mental health, something we should all do.  

Mental Health Act 846

From my chat with him, the saying that there is only a thin line between sanity and insanity has become very real to me.  I went in search of the Mental Health Act 846 of 2012 to know more so I could speak from an informed position.

The Act has objects, among others, to “promote mental health and provide humane care, including treatment and rehabilitation”.  

This is to be done in the least restrictive environment, as well as culturally appropriate manner.

It should be an affordable, accessible and equitably distributed integrated and specialised mental health care that will involve both the public and the private.

Beautifully crafted, the objects of the Act take care of mental health across the country and at national, regional and district levels.

The objects take care of the treatment rights of persons with mental disorders, confidentiality, employment rights and protection of vulnerable groups, i.e. women, aged and children.

As I read through the Act, the question I kept asking myself was how the laudable ideas would be funded, because really, without any laid down funding avenues, the beautiful intentions in the Act would not see the light of day.  

Mental Health Fund

Lo and behold, a few pages down the line, I came across one of the notable provisions – the establishment of a Mental Health Fund – to ostensibly finance mental health care in the country.

The list of sources of funding is exhaustive in the Act. On the surface, therefore, one would say that the Authority should be well-resourced to carry out its mandate of efficient mental health care in the country. But is it?  

When I put the question to Mrs Estelle Appiah, Chairperson of the Mental Health Authority, wanting to know which areas have so far been covered, her response disappointed me.

According to the Chairperson, “the Mental Health Fund provided for in the Act has not even taken off. It has never been established, for which reason the funding gap has remained agape.

NHIS free treatment

Notwithstanding, though the fact is disappointing, it gladdened one’s heart to hear earlier in the week that the Government has made some moves towards free treatment for some four mental health disorders.

According to a statement issued by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the four disorders include depression, bipolar, anxiety and schizophrenia. The free treatment takes effect on November 1, 2024.

The four aforementioned mental health disorders will be attended to at all the specialised mental health care facilities in the country. These are, the Accra Psychiatric, Pantang and Ankaful hospitals.

This positive move would make mental health services critical to the well-being of citizens and readily available to every Ghanaian while allowing early diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues, which can prevent more severe conditions.

The Board Chairperson, Mrs Appiah, said “though a good move by NHIA, the mental health facilities need funds to operate optimally,” adding that “their success, however, would be dependent on how the operation will go”.

The NHIA move towards free treatment and care for mental health patients in the identified disorders, though not enough, considering the overall funding under the Act, one would take it as a drop that will one day make a mighty ocean.

Mental health cases will drastically reduce and the nation will be a better place if this piece of news on free treatment in some areas of mental health is well applied and the facilities are supported with resources and well-motivated Psychiatric specialists and nurses are committed to doing the work.  

Let us all talk about it, create awareness, suggest ideas and volunteer funding, if possible, so the war against mental health diseases in our society can be won.  

No one should take their lives or contemplate doing so because of the stigma of a mental health disorder.  

Writer’s email: vickywirekoandoh@yahoo.com