Ghana launches maternal mental health policy to close care gap

Ghana officially launched a national Maternal Mental Health Policy, informed by a pilot project in five regions and supported by WHO and UKFCDO funding. The policy aims to integrate mental health into maternal and child health services across levels of care.

Ghana has officially launched a national Maternal Mental Health Policy to address gaps in care for mothers. The policy was developed by the Mental Health Authority with support from the World Health Organization and national stakeholders. It was launched alongside findings from a pilot project carried out in five regions and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The move responds to reports indicating that most women who give birth in Ghana do not receive mental health care. Key facts: - The Mental Health Authority led the policy launch with WHO and other national stakeholders. - The policy and findings drew on a Maternal Mental Health Pilot Project implemented across five regions with funding from the UKFCDO. - The article reports that for every 10 women who give birth in Ghana, almost all do not receive any form of mental health care. - The policy provides a framework to integrate mental health into maternal and child health services at all levels of care. - Parliament and development partners reiterated commitments to oversight and sustained investment for implementation. Summary: The policy establishes a national framework intended to integrate mental health into routine maternal and child health services, based on lessons from the pilot. Implementation and sustained investment are described as priorities to extend services and improve accessibility nationwide.