The Navrongo War Memorial Hospital recorded 189 mental health and neurological cases during the first half of 2026, reflecting a modest increase in the number of people seeking professional mental healthcare in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality.
Health professionals attribute the trend to increased public awareness, improved access to mental health services and a growing willingness among residents to seek professional treatment instead of relying solely on traditional or informal care.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Thursday, July 16, Community Mental Health and Rehabilitation Specialist, Frederick Adiak, disclosed that the hospital also managed 10 attempted suicide cases during the same period.
According to him, the hospital recorded 189 mental health clients in the first half of 2026, compared to 179 cases in 2025, 181 in 2024 and 188 in 2023. Attempted suicide cases, he said, stood at 10 in 2026, down from 37 in 2025, 28 in 2024 and 29 in 2023.
Adiak clarified that the statistics represent only cases reported to the hospital and should not be interpreted as the total number of people living with mental health conditions in the municipality.
He expressed concern over the limited mental health workforce in the municipality, noting that services are currently being provided by only four mental health nurses and one psychiatrist based at the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital.
Adiak identified poor adherence to medication as one of the major challenges affecting patient recovery, explaining that many patients discontinue treatment once they begin to feel better, resulting in relapses and repeated visits to the hospital.
“Most people start the medication at a point, then they drop it,” he said.
He further revealed that the hospital is unable to admit severely ill mental health patients for prolonged treatment because it lacks a dedicated psychiatric ward.As a result, some patients have to be referred to facilities outside the municipality for specialised care.
Adiak appealed to families and communities to continue supporting relatives living with mental illness and urged patients to adhere strictly to prescribed medication and follow-up care.
He stressed that mental illness is treatable and that people living with mental health conditions can recover and lead productive lives when they receive timely and sustained care.
“Suffering from mental illness does not mean you have been written off. People can recover, work and contribute meaningfully to society when they receive the right support,” he said.
Mike 105.3FM I Navrongo | Elizabeth Apusaama
