![Page 1: Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a … · 2018. 8. 20. · Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a community-mapping exercise](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022063017/5fd906ce548a083a187465df/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana:
a community-mapping exercise
Ursula M Read, PGDip OT, PhD, Kings College London
Sarah Gyau, BSc OT, University of Ghana, Accra Psychiatric Hospital
Ann Sena Fordie, BSc OT, University of Ghana, Pantang Hospital
![Page 2: Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a … · 2018. 8. 20. · Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a community-mapping exercise](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022063017/5fd906ce548a083a187465df/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Brief history of Occupational Therapy in mental health in Ghana
OT units constructed
in psychiatric hospitals
Last qualifiedOT retired
1960s 2006
2 OTs posted to Accra and Pantang
hospitals
20182011
OT degree training began in Ghana
First cohort ofOTs graduated
2016
UK-trained OTs in post
1960s-70s
![Page 3: Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a … · 2018. 8. 20. · Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a community-mapping exercise](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022063017/5fd906ce548a083a187465df/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Challenges
• Buildings in poor state of repair
• Pressures on hospital budget
• Limited understanding of OT role
• Little engagement with local community
![Page 4: Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a … · 2018. 8. 20. · Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a community-mapping exercise](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022063017/5fd906ce548a083a187465df/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Opportunities
• Support from nursing and social welfare
• Established culture of philanthropy
• Network of community resources
• Opportunities for artisan work as livelihood
• UN CRPD – policy commitment to social inclusion
• Enthusiastic and creative OTs in post!
![Page 5: Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a … · 2018. 8. 20. · Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a community-mapping exercise](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022063017/5fd906ce548a083a187465df/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Research aims and objectives
Aim: To identify community resources support the social inclusion and participation of people recovering from mental illness
Objectives:
• To investigate community awareness of mental health and the needs of people recovering from mental illness
• To identify existing collaborations with mental health services and potential for future collaboration
• To develop a directory of community-based resources
![Page 6: Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a … · 2018. 8. 20. · Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a community-mapping exercise](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022063017/5fd906ce548a083a187465df/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Methods: Community resource mapping
Phase 1
• Visits to community resources
• Questionnaires with managers/directors
• Stakeholder interviews
Phase 2
• Participatory research groups
• Walking tours with persons with experience of mental illness
• Ethnography with persons with experience of mental illness & families
![Page 7: Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a … · 2018. 8. 20. · Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a community-mapping exercise](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022063017/5fd906ce548a083a187465df/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
NGOs
Civil society organisations
Community resources
![Page 8: Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a … · 2018. 8. 20. · Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a community-mapping exercise](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022063017/5fd906ce548a083a187465df/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Community arts
Churches
![Page 9: Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a … · 2018. 8. 20. · Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a community-mapping exercise](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022063017/5fd906ce548a083a187465df/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Small businesses
Artisans
![Page 10: Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a … · 2018. 8. 20. · Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a community-mapping exercise](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022063017/5fd906ce548a083a187465df/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Questionnaire findings 1: Perceptions of mental illness
• Mental illness associated with:
- violence/chaotic behaviour
- ‘stress’ arising from relationships problems, work, poverty etc.
- immoral behaviour e.g. using alcohol/drugs
• Perception that people do not recover
• Some awareness of support needs, stigma, social exclusion
• Personal knowledge of someone with mental illness and media coverage seemed to increase awareness of support needs
![Page 11: Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a … · 2018. 8. 20. · Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a community-mapping exercise](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022063017/5fd906ce548a083a187465df/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Questionnaire findings 2: Attitudes towards working with people with mental illness
• Reluctance to work with people who have used drugs or look ’mad’
• Concerns about risks working with machinery, tools etc.
• Concerns that person may not be able to follow instructions
• Fear that the person will always show some symptoms
• Concerns about accommodation, food, time commitment
• Focus on financial rather than other forms of support
• Perception that is about what they can do for the person, rather than what the person may have to offer
![Page 12: Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a … · 2018. 8. 20. · Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a community-mapping exercise](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022063017/5fd906ce548a083a187465df/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Questionnaire findings 3: Community engagement
• Donations/charitable support - often linked to religious faith
• Some support arising from corporate social responsibility agenda
• Small business/artisans offer apprenticeships (but costs involved)
• Some casual work available (but insecure)
Assistance largely based on philanthropy rather than social justice –
risks maintaining inequalities and social exclusion
![Page 13: Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a … · 2018. 8. 20. · Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a community-mapping exercise](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022063017/5fd906ce548a083a187465df/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Future plans
• Continue questionnaires and stakeholder interviews
• Set up participatory research groups
• Ethnographic observation/interviews with persons with experience of mental illness and family members
• Collaboration with arts-based groups to engage communities with research
• Develop on-line and paper directory of community resources
![Page 14: Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a … · 2018. 8. 20. · Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a community-mapping exercise](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022063017/5fd906ce548a083a187465df/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Acknowledgement
• UCT NRF WFOT CONGRESS 2018 GRANT PROGRAM
• WFOT CONGRESS GRANT PROGRAM
![Page 15: Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a … · 2018. 8. 20. · Resources for occupational therapy in mental health in Ghana: a community-mapping exercise](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022063017/5fd906ce548a083a187465df/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Thank you
More information: