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Setting Mental Health Priorities in Ghana: A 15-Year Contextual Analysis of the Presidential State of the Nation Address

Author

Listed:
  • Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie

    (Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 84, Ghana)

  • Priscilla Ayebea Davies

    (Office of the Vice Chancellor, Pentecost University, Sowutuom Campus, Kaneshie, Accra P.O. Box KN 1739, Ghana)

  • Pearl Ama Otoo

    (Department of Statistics, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. LG 115, Ghana
    Deceased.)

Abstract

Globally, mental health issues have been neglected and allowed to be suppressed by stigma and discrimination for a very long time, although mental disorders are responsible for about 30% of the global non-fatal disease burden. Thus, the global call for solution to this challenge admonishes governments, donors, and mental health service users to prioritise mental health. Towards this end, speeches by key political actors can be used to garner public support and set out strong arguments for the prioritisation of mental health. Guided by the agenda-setting theory, this study sought to contribute to the evidence on the mental health priorities in Ghana by conducting a summative qualitative content analysis of the state of the nation addresses (SONAs) presented by presidents of Ghana from 2007 to 2021. Findings show that no mental health condition was highlighted in any of the SONAs, and mental health priorities in terms of policy and investment were superficial, inadequate, and woefully incomparable to those of physical health. It is suggested that government should heighten mental health priorities, given that mental disorders are leading the top 10 causes of the years lived with disability burden in the country.

Suggested Citation

  • Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie & Priscilla Ayebea Davies & Pearl Ama Otoo, 2021. "Setting Mental Health Priorities in Ghana: A 15-Year Contextual Analysis of the Presidential State of the Nation Address," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-12, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jchals:v:12:y:2021:i:2:p:22-:d:632818
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Helen Jack & Maureen Canavan & Angela Ofori-Atta & Lauren Taylor & Elizabeth Bradley, 2013. "Recruitment and Retention of Mental Health Workers in Ghana," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(2), pages 1-8, February.
    2. Crush, Jonathan & Chikanda, Abel, 2015. "South–South medical tourism and the quest for health in Southern Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 313-320.
    3. Nicolás Ajzenman & Tiago Cavalcanti & Daniel Da Mata, 2020. "More than Words: Leaders' Speech and Risky Behavior During a Pandemic," Department of Economics Working Papers wp_gob_2020_03, Universidad Torcuato Di Tella.
    4. Cavalcanti, Tiago & Ajzenman, Nicolas & da Mata, Daniel, 2020. "More than Words: Leaders’ Speech and Risky Behavior During a Pandemic," CEPR Discussion Papers 14707, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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