Dr Charity Binka, the Executive Director of Women, Media and Change (WOMEC) has made a passionate call for urgent action to improve access to mental health services for women and girls, especially in times of crisis.
According to her, in times of crisis, mental health needs escalate, but unfortunately, it is in such situations that access to services becomes even more limited, and women who are already disproportionately affected by social and economic inequalities, face even deeper emotional trauma during emergencies.
She said women are the emotional pillars of home and the backbone of community life, yet they face enormous physical, economic, and psychological stress without adequate support.
“Studies show that women are at higher risk of anxiety, depression and trauma, but very few receive professional help due to stigma, discrimination and limited access to mental health services, especially in the rural communities. Many women lack safety space to seek help, community-based mental health services, trauma counselling, financial ability to access private care protection from stigma and cultural silence,” she said.
Therefore, urging government and development partners to take bold practical steps to address the specific mental health needs of women and girls.
She also emphasized the need for the strengthening Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Compounds with mental support tailored for women and girls, provision of free trauma and psychological counselling for survivors of gender- based violence, and expanding the NHIS scheme to fully cover mental health services and medications, and integrate mental health screening into both antenatal and postnatal care to support maternal well- being.
Dr. Binka continues that mental wellness is a human right, not a luxury, and every emergency response recovering effort and peacebuilding policy must include mental health as a core element.
She said the organisation believes that through collaboration and commitment, Ghana can build a future where all women and girls have equitable access to mental health care, especially in the face of trauma.
She made this appeal during the commemoration of the World Mental Health Day celebration under the theme “Access to Services, Mental Health in catastrophes and Emergency”.