The Upper East region badly in need of mental health drugs | Health

Psychiatric units in the Region are in desperate need of psychotropic drugs to improve the health care needs of their clients, said Edem Quarshie Ameglah, regional coordinator for mental health in the Upper East.

In the last five years, the government's free provision of psychotropic drugs (mental health drugs) was a challenge and had led to relapses among some clients, while the situation of some others was worsening as a result. of the absence of drugs.

Mr Ameglah, who disclosed this information in an interview with the Ghanaian news agency in Bolgatanga, said that it was expected that with the adoption of the Mental Health Act (846 ), the supplies would be improved.

Mr. Ameglah recalled that "last year, when we asked for medicines at the central medical stores of Accra, we only received a few amounts of medication for psychiatric treatment, and added that "on the list, there were no anticonvulsants. Meanwhile, we have so many clients with seizure disorders and epilepsy.

He observed that when some clients get prescriptions to buy their medications, they do not buy them and, after a few months, they come back to ask if the drugs are free. If you say no, they go back because they do not have money to buy.

Mr Ameglah noted that the shortage was not limited to the Upper East East region, but constituted a national challenge.

The Coordinator said that the lack of psychotropic drugs had, among other problems, resulted in a high rate of default in the region.

"Mr Ameglah said that it was a challenge for his unit because" we are not getting results to improve our customers, it is as if we Let's form a circle, turning instead of going forward. "

He encouraged clients to visit mental health units "because the units not only deliver medication to clients, they also provide appropriate care and advice on mental health issues."

He added that some psychiatric clients had attacked relatives with knives, which resulted in deaths, and that was because some clients could not afford to buy their drugs.

"If patients take psychotropic medication, it must be continuous and consistent. Once it comes out, it can potentially make some customers aggressive. "

The mental health coordinator cited examples of inconclusive medications and said, "If, for example, a client is taking olanzapine or any of the antipsychotics, this will help stabilize the psychotic symptoms of this client, then he will begin to hear voices perceive would like to harm them and act according to the voices they hear. "

Mr. Ameglah called parents of clients with mental illnesses to give up calling them "crazy man", but to show them love and caring because mental illness could affect any Member of the family.