Ghana has launched a nationwide mental health campaign aimed at expanding access to care through a new 24/7 digital platform and direct support services for more than 1,000 mothers, students and professionals.
The initiative, launched by Jubilare Group in partnership with the Mental Health Authority of Ghana and 18 other organisations, forms part of the Mental Health Campaign 2026 and seeks to tackle mental health stigma while improving access to counselling and psychiatric services across the country.
Speaking at the launch in Accra, Deborah Asmah, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing and Operations Officer of Npontu Technologies and President of Jubilare Group, shared her personal experience with postnatal depression during three pregnancies.
According to her, she discovered the condition through online searches rather than through medical support.
“I learned the name for what I was experiencing not from my hospital or doctor. I learned it from Google. In the dark hours. Alone,” she said.
Deborah Asmah stated that the campaign was designed to confront the growing mental health crisis in Ghana, particularly among mothers and students.
She cited research indicating that 50 percent of Ghanaian mothers experience perinatal depression, while between 13 and 17 percent report suicidal thoughts. She also noted that one in five new mothers experiences postnatal depression, while one in three university students struggles with anxiety or depression.
“Mental health is like malaria — it can affect anyone. We do not shame people for getting malaria treatment. Mental health deserves the same dignity,” she stated.
As part of the campaign, a digital mental health platform is expected to launch in the third or fourth quarter of 2026. Developed in collaboration with the Mental Health Authority, the platform will provide round-the-clock remote access to licensed therapists, psychiatrists and counsellors.
Deborah Asmah said the initiative would help address barriers linked to stigma, distance and privacy concerns.
“A mother battling depression at 2 AM should not wait until morning. A student at midnight needs help now,” she said.
Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Authority of Ghana, Dr. Eugene Dordoye, described the collaboration as an important step towards improving mental healthcare delivery in the country.
“We envision a Ghana where innovation and partnership become bridges between suffering and support; where care is not imprisoned by geography; where help is not determined by proximity; and where mental healthcare becomes more responsive, more accessible, and more humane,” he said.
The campaign, which runs from May to December 2026, includes specialised programmes targeting maternal and student mental health.
Under the maternal mental health programme, Jubilare Group will work with Lister Hospital, 37 Military Hospital, University of Ghana Medical Center, Legon Hospital and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to support hundreds of mothers.
The initiative will train frontline healthcare workers, including midwives, nurses and obstetricians, to recognise symptoms of postnatal depression and provide support. It will also introduce routine mental health screening during six-week postpartum check-ups, monthly support groups, and referral pathways to professional counselling services.
For students, the campaign will partner with Accra Technical University and University of Cape Coast to train 20 peer mental health champions on each campus.
The programme includes workshops on recognising signs of distress, active listening and referrals, alongside sensitisation talks during examination periods.
The campaign also aims to promote awareness and implementation of Ghana’s Maternal Mental Health Policy launched on March 31, 2026.
“A policy without awareness is just paper. This campaign provides awareness, activation and accountability,” Deborah Asmah said.
Supporting organisations include the Mental Health Authority of Ghana, the Mental Health Society of Ghana, Pantang Hospital, Accra Psychiatric Hospital, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, MTN Ghana, Fincra and other partners.
“This is our fight. Not theirs. Ours. Breaking stigma starts with each of us. The silence ends here,” Deborah Asmah declared.
