, underscores the growing mental health burden in the country and the urgent need for improved access to care, public education, and policy support.){kind=link}
The figure, cited by Humphrey Matey Kofie, Executive Secretary of the Mental Health Society of Ghana (MEHSOG), underscores the growing mental health burden in the country and the urgent need for improved access to care, public education, and policy support.
Mr. Matey Kofie revealed the statistics while speaking on the state of mental health awareness in Ghana, noting that despite the significant number of people affected, mental health conditions remain underdiagnosed and stigmatized.
“According to the WHO, about 157,000 people in Ghana were living with bipolar disorder as of 2024. Sadly, most of them do not receive adequate medical or psychological support due to stigma, lack of services, and limited funding,” he said.
He explained that bipolar disorder — a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings ranging from manic highs to depressive lows, often affects productivity, relationships, and overall quality of life if not properly managed.
He further called on government and stakeholders to strengthen the country’s mental health infrastructure, ensure equitable access to psychiatric medication, and intensify awareness campaigns to combat discrimination against people with mental illness.
“Many people continue to suffer in silence. It’s time we treat mental health as a national development issue, not a side topic,” he emphasized.
The Mental Health Society of Ghana and allied organizations have since renewed calls for the full implementation of the Mental Health Act, 2012 (Act 846), to ensure that individuals living with mental disorders receive the protection, dignity, and care they deserve.