The District Mental Health Coordinator, Mr. Stephen Awiti, has expressed concern over the worsening mental health conditions of patients in the Nkoranza North District, Bono East Region, due to intermittent drug shortages.

He appealed to the government to ensure a constant drug supply to aid in the healing process of those with mental health illnesses in the area.

In an interview with the media in Busunya, the District capital, Mr. Awiti attributed the increasing cases of mental health illness to factors such as alcoholism, substance abuse, and marital problems.

He mentioned that currently, only about 600 out of the more than 2,000 individuals with mental health conditions in the district receive medication due to the drug scarcity, and even their conditions are deteriorating.

The most common mental disorders in the district, affecting people between 16 and 65 years old, include epilepsy, depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, with epilepsy being particularly prevalent among individuals aged 15 to 40 years.

In another initiative, the MIHOSO International Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on human rights and health, has provided employable skill training to 150 individuals with mental disorders in four districts and municipalities in the region.

The beneficiaries, with 40 percent of them being women, were selected from communities in Nkoranza South and Kintampo North Municipalities, as well as Nkoranza North and Kintampo South Districts.

The organization equipped the beneficiaries with seed capital, enabling them to engage in soap making, livestock production, farming, and petty trading to improve their livelihoods. Additionally, they received leadership training skills and financial and business management guidance.

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of MIHOSO in charge of Operations, Mr. Thomas Benarkuu, praised the progress of the beneficiaries in their businesses and urged the District/Municipal Assemblies to provide support and decent job opportunities to patients who have become dependent on their parents and relatives.

He suggested that people with mental disorders should also benefit from the Disability Fund of the Assemblies to enhance their lives.

The organization expressed gratitude to the four Assemblies for their support in accessing drugs and appealed for continued assistance and extension of such aid to other individuals in need.