THE ROLE OF SELF-HELP GROUPS IN MENTAL HEALTH REHABILITATION AMONG MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS IN GA-MASHIE

ABSTRACT

Mental health self-help groups play an important role in the rehabilitation of people with mental illness in the wake of WHO advocacy for a paradigm shift in the treatment of mental health. This is a qualitative study on the role of self-help groups in mental health rehabilitation in Ga-Mashie, an urban poor community which has been a recipient of the mental health self-help model by BasicNeeds. Data was collected through 4 focus group discussions and 2 in-depth interviews with members of self-help groups in Ga-Mashie, Accra. Thematic analysis was employed to organise the data into the various themes and results. Mental health self-help groups perform functions like providing support such as financial support, access to medication as well advising each other. The various groups all have executives who are either elected or appointed. However, challenges such as dwindling interest of BasicNeeds, inadequate financial support among others have made some groups inactive. Based on this, it is important integrate mental health self-help into the community-based rehabilitation within social services in Ghana. This will be easier to implement since it is easier especially in a low resource country like Ghana.