A Senior Nursing Officer, Mr Wisdom Kumako, has cautioned against misconceptions surrounding mental health, urging the public to abandon beliefs that associate mental illness with witchcraft and spiritual problems.
Speaking on Nyansapo Fie on Plan B FM, Mr Kumako explained that such misconceptions contribute to stigma and prevent people living with mental health conditions from receiving the understanding and support they need.
He noted that some people wrongly believe mental illness is incurable, while others associate individuals with mental health conditions with aggression and anger issues.
According to him, greater public education is needed to correct these perceptions and promote a better understanding of mental health conditions.
Mr Kumako identified stress, anxiety and depression as common mental health concerns, emphasising the importance of recognising and understanding the different conditions that affect people’s psychological well-being.
He also educated listeners on schizophrenia, a serious mental health disorder that can affect a person’s thoughts, perceptions and ability to distinguish reality from experiences that are not real.
He explained that symptoms may include delusions, which are firmly held false beliefs, and hallucinations, which can involve seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling or tasting things that are not present.
Contributing to the discussion, Mrs Jennifer Adu Gyamfi noted that family history can be one of the factors associated with schizophrenia, highlighting the need to understand the possible causes and contributing factors of mental health conditions rather than relying on stereotypes.
The discussion on Nyansapo Fie highlighted the importance of mental health awareness, early recognition of symptoms and appropriate professional care.
It also called for greater compassion towards people living with mental health conditions, stressing that public education is essential to challenging stigma and creating a more supportive environment for those affected.
By: Owusu Erica Maame Krumah
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