BasicNeeds-Ghana advocates long term support, stronger mental health awareness for bereaved families

The Executive Director of BasicNeeds-Ghana, Dr. Peter Bedimak Yaro, has urged religious institutions and community groups to provide long-term psychosocial support for bereaved families.

He said “Religious bodies have strong support networks and therefore their care for such category of people must extend beyond funerals.

Mr Yaro who was speaking in an interview on the 16 children who lost their lives in a road accident at Bogu in the Asante Akyem area, stressed that mourning should not end at the burial.

“Youth groups, women’s fellowships and men’s fellowships should be mobilised to offer sustained emotional and psychological support," he added and called for continuous counseling and professional psychological care to help grieving families manage the emotional and mental scars left by such incidents.

Sharing his thoughts on road safety, Dr Yaro stressed the need for stricter government oversight, particularly in enforcing driver licensing regulations, preventing underage and overage driving, and enhancing road safety education.

He, therefore, called for proactive collaboration between state authorities and communities, which he said, could significantly reduce accidents.

Dr. Yaro said BasicNeeds-Ghana was already supporting people with mental health conditions and epilepsy, especially in underserved communities indicating that the organisation integrates mental health services with development initiatives to ensure that individuals were not only treated medically but also empowered to make informed choices and pursue their dreams.

“Mental health is a human rights issue. Everyone deserves access to care, dignity, and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to society,” Dr Yaro said.