Stakeholders call for changes in autism, ADHD care

Some stakeholders have called for reforms in autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, (ADHD) care in the country.

They called for expanded public education, strengthened early diagnosis systems and improved inclusive education policies on autism and ADHD.

That, they said, would reduce stigma, improve early intervention and enhance support for neurodivergent children and their families across communities, schools and health systems.

The stakeholders include a mental health advocate and founder of the Premier Rehabilitation Centre, Jahara Osman; the Director of Technical Coordination at the Ministry of Health, Dr Hafiz Adam Taher, and a Senior Community Mental Health Officer at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, Mavis Asantewaa Opoku.

They made the call at the second Mental Health Forum held in Accra last Saturday.

Private caregivers, Premier Rehabilitation Centre, organised the forum on Autism and ADHD. 

Forum

The forum brought together representatives from government, health services, education, parents, children and civil society organisations to discuss gaps in awareness, diagnosis and support for autism and ADHD.

It highlighted widespread misinformation, delayed identification of developmental conditions and limited access to specialised assessment services, especially outside urban centres.

The forum served as a bridge between policy, clinical practice and community experience, while speakers stressed that stigma and misunderstanding continued to delay care and isolate families.

Inclusive systems

Ms Osman called on society to change its perception on neurodiversity as mental retardation.

She stressed that autism and ADHD required both awareness and structural support across education and healthcare systems.

She also urged government institutions, particularly the Ministries of Health and Education to collaborate in building inclusive systems that support neurodivergent learners in mainstream schools.

“We must understand that teachers require more training to ensure classroom inclusion for neurodivergent children because they have a different way of learning from neurotypicals,” she stated.

Policy

For his part, Dr Taher said the Ministry of Health, the Mental Health Authority and its partners had undertaken a number of initiatives to strengthen mental health in the country.

“The government has prioritised mental health within primary healthcare and expanded community-based services to improve early detection and intervention.

“It has also implemented the Mental Health Act 2012 (Act 846) to protect the rights of persons living with mental health conditions and improve service delivery standards,” he said.

Dr Taher added that authorities had strengthened workforce training to support early identification and referral at community level.

He also encouraged stronger partnerships among government, civil society and the media to reduce stigma and improve public understanding of autism and ADHD.

“There must be sustained public education to dispel myths and harmful cultural interpretations of neurodevelopmental conditions,” Dr Taher added.

Gaps

For her part, Ms Opoku said limited public understanding of developmental conditions continued to delay diagnosis and intervention for children with autism and related disorders.

Ms Opoku added that schools had become increasingly important in identifying early signs through teacher observation and referral systems.

“Stigma and denial remain significant barriers since some parents refuse to accept diagnosis even when there are some developmental delays,” she stated.

Participants emphasised the need to integrate mental health into primary healthcare and strengthen teacher training to support early identification and inclusion.