From mental health policy development in Ghana to implementation: What are the barriers?

dc.contributor.authorAwenva, A D
dc.contributor.authorRead, U M
dc.contributor.authorOfori-Attah, A L
dc.contributor.authorDoku, V C K
dc.contributor.authorAkpalu, B
dc.contributor.authorFlisher, Alan
dc.contributor.authorLund, Crick
dc.contributor.authorOsei, A O
dc.contributor.authorFlisher, A J
dc.contributor.authorMHaPP Research Programme Consortium
dc.date.accessioned2017-06-27T07:45:40Z
dc.date.available2017-06-27T07:45:40Z
dc.date.issued2010
dc.date.updated2016-01-11T13:09:29Z
dc.description.abstractObjective: This paper identifies the key barriers to mental health policy implementation in Ghana and suggests ways of overcoming them. Method: The study used both quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitatively, the WHO Mental Health Policy and Plan Checklist and the WHO Mental Health Legislation Checklist were employed to analyse the content of mental health policy, plans and legislation in Ghana. Qualitative data was gathered using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with key stakeholders in mental health at the macro, meso and micro levels. These were used to identify barriers to the implementation of mental health policy, and steps to overcoming these. Results: Barriers to mental health policy implementation identified by participants include: low priority and lack of political commitment to mental health; limited human and financial resources; lack of intersectoral collaboration and consultation; inadequate policy dissemination; and an absence of research-based evidence to inform mental health policy. Suggested steps to overcoming the barriers include: revision of mental health policy and legislation; training and capacity development and wider consultation. Conclusion: These results call for well-articulated plans to address the barriers to the implementation of mental health policy in Ghana to reduce the burden associated with mental disorders.
dc.identifier.apacitationAwenva, A. D., Read, U. M., Ofori-Attah, A. L., Doku, V. C. K., Akpalu, B., Flisher, A., ... (2010). From mental health policy development in Ghana to implementation: What are the barriers?. <i>African Journal of Psychiatry</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24643en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationAwenva, A D, U M Read, A L Ofori-Attah, V C K Doku, B Akpalu, Alan Flisher, Crick Lund, A O Osei, A J Flisher, and "From mental health policy development in Ghana to implementation: What are the barriers?." <i>African Journal of Psychiatry</i> (2010) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24643en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationAwenva, A. D., Read, U. M., Ofori-Attah, A. L., Doku, V. C. K., Akpalu, B., Osei, A. O., & Flisher, A. J. (2010). From mental health policy development in Ghana to implementation: What are the barriers?. African Journal of Psychiatry, 13(3).
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Awenva, A D AU - Read, U M AU - Ofori-Attah, A L AU - Doku, V C K AU - Akpalu, B AU - Flisher, Alan AU - Lund, Crick AU - Osei, A O AU - Flisher, A J AU - MHaPP Research Programme Consortium AB - Objective: This paper identifies the key barriers to mental health policy implementation in Ghana and suggests ways of overcoming them. Method: The study used both quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitatively, the WHO Mental Health Policy and Plan Checklist and the WHO Mental Health Legislation Checklist were employed to analyse the content of mental health policy, plans and legislation in Ghana. Qualitative data was gathered using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with key stakeholders in mental health at the macro, meso and micro levels. These were used to identify barriers to the implementation of mental health policy, and steps to overcoming these. Results: Barriers to mental health policy implementation identified by participants include: low priority and lack of political commitment to mental health; limited human and financial resources; lack of intersectoral collaboration and consultation; inadequate policy dissemination; and an absence of research-based evidence to inform mental health policy. Suggested steps to overcoming the barriers include: revision of mental health policy and legislation; training and capacity development and wider consultation. Conclusion: These results call for well-articulated plans to address the barriers to the implementation of mental health policy in Ghana to reduce the burden associated with mental disorders. DA - 2010 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town J1 - African Journal of Psychiatry LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2010 T1 - From mental health policy development in Ghana to implementation: What are the barriers? TI - From mental health policy development in Ghana to implementation: What are the barriers? UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24643 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/24643
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationAwenva AD, Read UM, Ofori-Attah AL, Doku VCK, Akpalu B, Flisher A, et al. From mental health policy development in Ghana to implementation: What are the barriers?. African Journal of Psychiatry. 2010; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24643.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Psychiatry and Mental Healthen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.sourceAfrican Journal of Psychiatry
dc.source.urihttp://www.sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp
dc.subject.otherMental health
dc.subject.otherPolicy
dc.subject.otherImplementation
dc.subject.otherBarriers
dc.subject.otherLegislation
dc.titleFrom mental health policy development in Ghana to implementation: What are the barriers?
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Lund_Article_2010.pdf
Size:
136.35 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.72 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Collections