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The psychiatric services of Tema General Hospital and Manhean Clinic recorded a significant increase in the number of new registrants (first visit) in the establishment in 2020.
The two establishments registered a total of 389 new registrants in 2020, against 185 former registrants.
Tema Metro’s community psychiatry coordinator, Pious Tay, revealed this to the Ghanaian News Agency (GNA) in an interview on Monday.
According to him, the increase in the number of new registrants indicated that the public appreciated the fact that a visit to the psychiatric department did not mean “we were crazy like we were treating other diseases”.
He said the unit over the past two to three years had stepped up its education and public awareness of mental issues, which he said was producing the necessary result.
Mr Tay urged people with mental health problems to come to the hospital for necessary care, even when receiving alternative treatment, including spiritual treatment.
During this time, unit data showed that a total of 1,992 visits and examinations were observed at the respective facilities.
While 168 of those enrolled reported schizophrenia or schizotypal and delusional disorder, 58 suffered from depression, 29 from bipolar disorder, 73 from epilepsy / convulsions and 25 from dementia.
Others were four delusions, 16 mental disorders due to alcohol abuse, six autism, 55 mental disorders due to the use of psychoactive substances and seven personality disorders.
Eleven pregnancy-related mental disorders were recorded in the metropolis, while 20 anxiety disorders, 81 unspecified mental disorders and nine delayed mental disorders, developmental and other infant mental disorders were taken care of.
Mr Tay said that in 2020, psychiatric officials visited 347 homes, conducted 376 health talks, 31 visits to faith-based healing centers and 22 school health programs, among others.
He called on authorities and organizations to help address some of the challenges the units face, including the lack of vehicles and funds for transportation during various community activities.
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