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New Juaben South marks International Mental Health Day

The New Juaben South Municipal Chief Executive, Isaac Appaw-Gyasi has admonished the youth in the country to stay away from drug abuse and other related social vices that can lead to mental and psychological problems.

Date Created : 10/14/2019 5:16:03 AM : Story Author : Collins Aikins Akuffo/Benjamin Obeng Asiedu

According to him, drunkenness, tramadol abuse, peer pressure, bad relationships and internet fraud have negative impacts on their future development, hence the need to stay clear of them.

The MCE gave the advice when the New Juaben South Municipal Health Directorate in partnership with the Ghana Psychology Association celebrated a durbar in the New Juaben South Municipality dubbed “Suicide Prevention” to mark the Annual World Mental Health Day.

The program include quiz competition between three Junior High Schools in the New Juaben South Municipality; namely Nana Kwaku Boateng JHS B, Freeman Methodist JHS and Arch Bishop Lemaire Anglican JHS. It was aimed at educating, encouraging and creating awareness of mental health, especially suicide among the early youth.

The event featured some personalities such as the Municipal Chief Executive for the New Juaben South Municipal Assembly Hon. Isaac Appaw-Gyasi, Gyasihene of the New Juaben Traditional Area Nana Twumasi Dankwa, Deputy Director of Municipal Health Directorate Mad. Irene Amah Anuwah and Mr. Samuel Owoadie, representing the Municipal Director of Education.

The Municipal Chief Executive for New Juaben South Municipality in his address declared that about two point eight (2.8) million people have mental disorder of some sort and out of that about six hundred and fifty thousand (650,000) suffer a severe form of mental illness every year.

This according to him everybody is at risk and all social and economic interventions and achievements would be meaningless if nothing is done about it.

He urged the Municipal Education Directorate to strengthen the educational institutions with counseling and support groups which will deal with such psychological problems amongst the youth in school.

“We must all make effort not to stigmatize mental health issues in our communities. It will encourage people who have problems to seek help. Families must show love and care to people with mental disorders in the families and be supportive and welcome them home.” He added

He emphasized that the government is committed to seeing to the election of MMDEs, and so the electoral commission has therefore set December 17th, 2019 for the referendum. So he urge all the citizenry to go to the polls on December 17th to express your opinions.

Mr. Samuel Awoadie, who represented the New Juaben Municipal Director of Education in his speech said one of the uncommon activities proven by psychologist to keep persons away from suicide is exercise, sleeping well and eating raw foods which alleviates the mind from any stress.

A psychological doctor from the Koforidua Regional Hospital, Dr. Isaac Sarfo Acheampong lectured the students on some major but unconcerned causes and preventions of suicide.

He stated that suicide is a public health priority and some causes can be severe punishment of children by parents, failure at schools, pressure from parents, dispute in relationships, impotency, poverty and loss of jobs.

He added that, men commit suicide in every country than women due to over burdens.

Dr. Isaac Sarfo Acheampong pleaded on the media, schools, religious leaders and parents to play an important role in preventing suicide in our country Ghana.

He advised the students to study the moods of their peers since they might show signs of thinking about committing suicide and also advised parents to have enough time for their children in order for the children to share their emotional problem with them when needed.