GADANGME JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH & EDUCATION
Scope and Intent: GaDangme Journal of Mental Health & Education is an extension of GaDangme Heritage & Cultural Foundation, www.gadangme.weebly.com This website will focus on mental health and educational issues affecting GaDangmes. It is not a diagnostic or treatment services, but will provide information that may assist GaDangmes as some we confront mental health and educational issues in our daily lives. In so doing, Gadangme Journal of Mental Health & Educations will seek to utilize the services and contributions of GaDangme professionals in the areas of Psychiatry, Medicine, Psychiatric Nurses, Clinical and Educational Psychologists, Psychiatric Social Workers. School Adminstrators, Paediatricians, School Counsellors, Parents and GaDangme youth, School teachers, etc.
As indicated earlier, those associated with GaDangme Journal of Mental Health & Education shall not be directly involve with any formal diagnosis and/or treatment, but may provide information ans suggestions on mental health and education issues. With prior informed consent, we will assist GaDangme and other who may seek our help by referring them to duly qualified and/or certified mental health and educational professionals in the jurisdictions they reside for formal diagmosi and treatment, if they so desire. We aim to provide information on mental health and educational issues to all GaDangmes both in Ghana and in the Diaspora. Other non-GaDangme people who seek our shall not be denied.
Mental Health
It is import for us to understand that mental illness can affect people from all walks of life regardless, of age, gender, ethnicity, social status, occupations, etc., Just like any other variable, mental illness is normally distributed in a population. Thus, one can expect between two to five (2-5) percent of a given population, including GaDangmes, to have one form of mental illness or the other. It makes sense in our opinion, therefore, that GaDangmes become well informed about the nature, etiology, manisfestations, diagnosis of the various forms of mental illness so we can assist those who are mentally ill in our midst.
Regrettably, mental illness has become social stigma and the mentally ill as considered something of an anathema in GaDangme society and among Ghanaians generally. People with mental illness in our midst are considered as social outcasts and are treated with scorn and contempt. They are often neglected by the families and shun by Ghanaian society. Even, the government who should be concerned with the welfare of all Ghanaians does not provide adequate resources to help, diagnose and/or treat the mentally ill.
We should, however, be aware that is just like any other disease that can be treated given adequate resources, diagnosis and support for the mentally ill patients. With proper and sufficient diagnosis, effective treatment and community support many people with mental illness can lead normal lives and meet their social obligation and responsibilities. In some instances, daily does or replacement therapy prescribed by a qualified Psychiatrist or Physician may be all the mental ill person may need to go about his or he daily life in the same way a patient with hypertention is given anti-hypertensive drug daily to bring his or her blood pressure to normal levels. Unfortunately, the mentally ill in our society are not diagnoses or treated adequately due, in part, to lack or resources or the will to help them. They ended been referred to as "sekeyeloi" and are shackled in chain with little or no treatment.
From the foregoing, it is imperative that we rid ourselves of the ignorance and unnecessary fear of the mentally ill by educating ourselves about mental illness. GaDagme Journal of Mental Health & Education intends to partake in our public education process and mental illness and mental health concerns. We seek to work with GaDangme professionals and the wider public and all those interested in GaDangme issues.
Education Issues:
Education, both formally and informally is the most effective vehicle for social change and social advancement. However, our emphasis hre is on formal education and how that impact our children and youths today. If we GaDangmes are to compete successfuly on a level plain field with others, be it in Ghana or in the Diaspora, then we must focus on education of our youths, especially in the areas of science and technology.
However, as stated earlier, it is reasonable to expect that two to five (2-5) statistically of our youths in school may have one form of mental illness or the other, just like the rest of other ethnic groups or the general public. Given this fact, we GaDangmes must give serious attention to mental illness among our youths and do all we possibly can to assist them through public awareness, GaDangme advocacy groups. We must strive for adequate disagnosis and treatment.
Also, a small percentage of GaDangme chilkdren youths can be expected to have learning disabilities and/or learning disorders, developmental delays, attention-deficit hyperactive disorders and a number of behavior disorders, etc. as identified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders. Moreover ,environmental problems, such as dyfunctional families and inadequate support systems can have adverse impact on the child's academic performance. With adequate diagnosis, treatment and effective support system, GaDangme youths with learning disabilities and/or learning disorders can be helped to succeed.
In developing this website, therefore, our primary objective is to provide information and/or educate ourselves as GaDangme people, and generate discussion and suggestions as to how best we can assist our youths with learning disabilities/disorders, mental health issues and behavior disorders to succeed. GaDangme Journal of Mental Health & Education shall charge absolutely no fees for services or information rendered to GaDangme people and the general public.
Omanye Aba!!!
Dr. Joseph Nii Abekar Mensah, PhD.
Mental Health & Education Consultant,
April 21, 2013.
Scope and Intent: GaDangme Journal of Mental Health & Education is an extension of GaDangme Heritage & Cultural Foundation, www.gadangme.weebly.com This website will focus on mental health and educational issues affecting GaDangmes. It is not a diagnostic or treatment services, but will provide information that may assist GaDangmes as some we confront mental health and educational issues in our daily lives. In so doing, Gadangme Journal of Mental Health & Educations will seek to utilize the services and contributions of GaDangme professionals in the areas of Psychiatry, Medicine, Psychiatric Nurses, Clinical and Educational Psychologists, Psychiatric Social Workers. School Adminstrators, Paediatricians, School Counsellors, Parents and GaDangme youth, School teachers, etc.
As indicated earlier, those associated with GaDangme Journal of Mental Health & Education shall not be directly involve with any formal diagnosis and/or treatment, but may provide information ans suggestions on mental health and education issues. With prior informed consent, we will assist GaDangme and other who may seek our help by referring them to duly qualified and/or certified mental health and educational professionals in the jurisdictions they reside for formal diagmosi and treatment, if they so desire. We aim to provide information on mental health and educational issues to all GaDangmes both in Ghana and in the Diaspora. Other non-GaDangme people who seek our shall not be denied.
Mental Health
It is import for us to understand that mental illness can affect people from all walks of life regardless, of age, gender, ethnicity, social status, occupations, etc., Just like any other variable, mental illness is normally distributed in a population. Thus, one can expect between two to five (2-5) percent of a given population, including GaDangmes, to have one form of mental illness or the other. It makes sense in our opinion, therefore, that GaDangmes become well informed about the nature, etiology, manisfestations, diagnosis of the various forms of mental illness so we can assist those who are mentally ill in our midst.
Regrettably, mental illness has become social stigma and the mentally ill as considered something of an anathema in GaDangme society and among Ghanaians generally. People with mental illness in our midst are considered as social outcasts and are treated with scorn and contempt. They are often neglected by the families and shun by Ghanaian society. Even, the government who should be concerned with the welfare of all Ghanaians does not provide adequate resources to help, diagnose and/or treat the mentally ill.
We should, however, be aware that is just like any other disease that can be treated given adequate resources, diagnosis and support for the mentally ill patients. With proper and sufficient diagnosis, effective treatment and community support many people with mental illness can lead normal lives and meet their social obligation and responsibilities. In some instances, daily does or replacement therapy prescribed by a qualified Psychiatrist or Physician may be all the mental ill person may need to go about his or he daily life in the same way a patient with hypertention is given anti-hypertensive drug daily to bring his or her blood pressure to normal levels. Unfortunately, the mentally ill in our society are not diagnoses or treated adequately due, in part, to lack or resources or the will to help them. They ended been referred to as "sekeyeloi" and are shackled in chain with little or no treatment.
From the foregoing, it is imperative that we rid ourselves of the ignorance and unnecessary fear of the mentally ill by educating ourselves about mental illness. GaDagme Journal of Mental Health & Education intends to partake in our public education process and mental illness and mental health concerns. We seek to work with GaDangme professionals and the wider public and all those interested in GaDangme issues.
Education Issues:
Education, both formally and informally is the most effective vehicle for social change and social advancement. However, our emphasis hre is on formal education and how that impact our children and youths today. If we GaDangmes are to compete successfuly on a level plain field with others, be it in Ghana or in the Diaspora, then we must focus on education of our youths, especially in the areas of science and technology.
However, as stated earlier, it is reasonable to expect that two to five (2-5) statistically of our youths in school may have one form of mental illness or the other, just like the rest of other ethnic groups or the general public. Given this fact, we GaDangmes must give serious attention to mental illness among our youths and do all we possibly can to assist them through public awareness, GaDangme advocacy groups. We must strive for adequate disagnosis and treatment.
Also, a small percentage of GaDangme chilkdren youths can be expected to have learning disabilities and/or learning disorders, developmental delays, attention-deficit hyperactive disorders and a number of behavior disorders, etc. as identified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders. Moreover ,environmental problems, such as dyfunctional families and inadequate support systems can have adverse impact on the child's academic performance. With adequate diagnosis, treatment and effective support system, GaDangme youths with learning disabilities and/or learning disorders can be helped to succeed.
In developing this website, therefore, our primary objective is to provide information and/or educate ourselves as GaDangme people, and generate discussion and suggestions as to how best we can assist our youths with learning disabilities/disorders, mental health issues and behavior disorders to succeed. GaDangme Journal of Mental Health & Education shall charge absolutely no fees for services or information rendered to GaDangme people and the general public.
Omanye Aba!!!
Dr. Joseph Nii Abekar Mensah, PhD.
Mental Health & Education Consultant,
April 21, 2013.