File photo of Psychiatric Association of Ghana
The Upper East Region is grappling with a growing mental health crisis, recording over 2,000 cases annually, yet the entire region is served by only one psychiatrist and a handful of mental health nurses.
According to the Upper East Regional Health Directorate, mental health conditions now account for over 2,000 outpatient visits each year, highlighting the strain on limited health resources.
A 3news.com report dated October 4, 2025, cites data from the District Health Management Information System showing that 210 cases of depression were recorded in 2023, declining to 137 in 2024, with 108 cases already reported in the first quarter of 2025.
The report also disclosed that suicide cases remain a serious concern, with seven deaths recorded in 2023, increasing to thirteen in 2024, and seven deaths recorded in the first quarter of 2025. The region also recorded 269 attempted suicides within the same period.
At the Mental Health Unit of the Upper East Regional Hospital, nurses are managing most of the cases due to the absence of psychiatrists and specialized facilities. Serious mental health cases are referred to hospitals in southern Ghana, where better-equipped psychiatric units exist.
Mental health nurse Angelina Najat Anduba said the lack of facilities and financial barriers are making treatment and recovery difficult for patients.
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“We have challenges getting our patients to adhere to treatment because many cannot afford to buy medications or even register for the National Health Insurance Scheme. Some have been neglected by their families due to stigma, and when medications are unavailable or unaffordable, they relapse frequently”, she stated.
She also lamented the absence of psychiatric wards in the facility.
“Most of the cases we receive are psychiatric emergencies that need admission, but we don’t have a dedicated ward. The region’s only psychiatrist works in a children’s hospital, so we often have to refer our cases there,” she said.
Another mental health nurse, Janet Adu Asante, described the daily challenges and proposed solutions to ease the burden.
“As a facility, even a 10-bed psychiatric ward will help us manage patients who need to be admitted,” she said. If the National Health Insurance Scheme could cover mental health medications or allow government renewal of expired insurance for patients, it would ease the financial pressure on them”, she indicated.
She added that the facility handles suicide, depression, and substance abuse cases daily, often without the presence of a psychologist.
“We have to stand in as psychologists and provide counselling and psychotherapy to stabilize patients,” she noted.
A Clinical Nursing Auditor at the University of Ghana Medical Center, Gifty Atampugbire, called for improved human resources and training in mental health across the northern regions.
“Out of the five northern regions, there is not a single state-owned mental hospital. Yet the first point of contact for anyone in crisis is usually a nurse or midwife, and many lack the necessary skills to deliver quality mental health care”, she said.
Mental Health Crisis: Ghana has only 80 psychiatrists for 30 million people – Report
Meanwhile, the Ghana Mental Health Authority has reported a 40 percent increase in suicide deaths nationwide in 2024, with 475 suicide attempts recorded in the first half of 2025, reflecting the growing urgency for investment in mental health infrastructure and services.
MRA/EB
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