Submission ID 130727
| Issue/Objective | Mental health is a global public good essential for human development. Yet there remain significant inequities in access to services. To address such inequities, the Ghana Mental Health Act (Act 846) restructured the mental healthcare system in 2012, decentralizing from tertiary care to primary care and community-based services. This Act also established the Mental Health Authority, which launched a national helpline to provide free psychosocial support and referrals to mental health services in 2022. This community-based innovation serves vulnerable groups (e.g., migrants, women) and helps to address important gaps in mental health service delivery. This study maps the helpline's implementation, with a focus on caller and helpline staff experiences and recommendations for improvement. |
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| Methodology/Approach | We employed a concurrent mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were extracted from call records (September 2022-July 2025) and analyzed to summarize caller demographics, the reasons for calling, and the services helpline staff delivered. Qualitative data consisted of 40 in-depth interviews with helpline staff (n=17) and former callers (n=23) from May to July 2025 to explore their experiences with the helpline, as well as their recommendations for service improvement. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize quantitative data, and reflexive thematic analysis for qualitative data. |
| Results | Callers were 60.9% male, 49.9% employed, with a mean age of 34. The most frequent reasons for calling were information-seeking, relational issues, financial issues, suicidal thoughts, and migration-related issues. Most callers received general assistance, referrals, or psychological first-aid. Qualitative analysis highlighted the importance of mental health education and awareness to clarify that the helpline is a space for emotional support rather than material aid, and to reduce stigma so individuals feel empowered to seek help without fear or shame. Helpline staff emphasized the need for additional training in communication and crisis response techniques, as well as institutional supports to facilitate care for their own mental health. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Ghana's national helpline is evolving from crisis intervention toward broader psychosocial access, but infrastructure constraints and low public awareness limit impact. Strengthening resources and increasing public awareness is essential to maximize the helpline's potential as a national mental health service. |
| Presenters and Affiliations | Marilyn N. Ahun McGill University Selen Calgin McGill University Daniel Atim Mental Health Authority Justice Opoku Divine Love Hospital Richard Appiah University of Ghana Evans Danso Mental Health Authority |
