Atwima Kwanwoma Health Directorate Marks Mental Health Awareness Day with Free Screening and Community Engagement
The Atwima Kwanwoma Municipal Health Directorate, in collaboration with the Ahenema Kokoben Health Center, commemorated this year’s Mental Health Awareness Day with a community-wide float and free health screening exercise for residents of Ahenema Kokoben and Brofoyedru.
Held under the theme “Mental Well-being, Your Voice Matters,” the event began with a spirited float that kicked off from the Brofoyedru Police Station and concluded at the Ahenema Kokoben Health Center. The float drew scores of health professionals, community volunteers, and residents, who held placards and made public announcements to raise awareness about mental health issues.
The day’s activities culminated in a comprehensive health screening exercise, during which hundreds of community members received free medical checkups, consultations, and educational sessions on mental health and general well-being.
Addressing participants, Madam Faustina Nuako, the Ashanti Regional Coordinator of Mental Health, emphasized the critical need to prioritize mental health in Ghana. She revealed that one in five people is affected by mental health conditions, contrary to the widespread belief that mental illness impacts only a few.
“Only 2% of those affected seek hospital care for treatment,” she lamented, calling the statistic alarming and urging increased public education and stigma reduction. Madam Nuako noted that May is designated as the ‘Purple Month’ to draw national attention to mental health issues and to encourage those affected to seek help.
“Mental health conditions are treatable. Medications and therapies are available at our hospitals, and people must not shy away from seeking care,” she said. She also urged the public to stop stigmatizing persons living with mental health conditions and to instead show them love, attention, and support.
Madam Lydia Yamoah, Principal of SAMLEE Nurses and Midwifery Training College, also spoke at the event. She encouraged parents to be deeply involved in their children’s lives. “Parents should treat their children as friends, pay attention to their behavior, and know who they associate with,” she advised, stressing the importance of regular school visits and open communication to detect early signs of emotional or mental distress.
Mrs. Pauline Badu Bonsu, Executive Director of Lemon Foundation, reiterated the importance of public education on mental health. She called for stronger partnerships between private institutions and the Ghana Health Service to promote awareness and build support systems.
“At Lemon Foundation, mental health is one of our topmost priorities. It’s time to break the silence, end the stigma, and help people live dignified lives,” she added.
The event was widely praised by participants and health officials as a meaningful step toward building a more inclusive society where mental health is acknowledged, understood, and prioritized.
Beneficiaries of the free health screening expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the Atwima Kwanwoma Health Directorate for the kind gesture.
