‘That is how the real mad people behave’: Beliefs about and treatment of mental disorders by traditional medicine-men in Accra, Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 309-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lily Kpobi ◽  
Leslie Swartz
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Causal Beliefs ◽  
Treatment Methods ◽  
Medicine Men

Background: Traditional healing methods are considered central to mental health care in low-income countries such as Ghana, because they are perceived to be more easily accessible, more affordable and generally ascribe similar causal beliefs to those of the patients. However, not much is known about the work of traditional healers largely because their methods are shrouded in mysticism and secrecy. There is a need to understand the ideology and beliefs of traditional healers surrounding mental disorders, including knowledge about their practices in mental health care. Aims: In this article, we discuss the causal beliefs and treatment methods of traditional medicine-men from Accra, Ghana. We also describe their diagnostic and treatment methods for mental disorders. Methods: Eight medicine-men, indigenous to the Greater Accra Region, were interviewed through individual semi-structured interviews. The data were analysed through thematic analysis. Results: The medicine-men’s beliefs about mental illness were dominated by supernatural ideas. Mental illness was also seen as a form of punishment or resulting from envy, and there was a strong reliance on spiritual direction from the gods for diagnosis and treatment. Conclusion: These themes are discussed with emphasis on their potential implications for patients, as well as for collaborative efforts.

scholarly journals Efficiency and Outcome of Healing Practices Performed by Spirit Dancers in Healing Mental Illness – A Patient’s Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 803-808
Author(s):  
Prakasha Amin ◽  
Mohan A.K
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Traditional Healing ◽  
Black Magic

BACKGROUND In many rural communities, the cause of mental illness is attributed to black magic, spirit possession of past sin and the coastal region of Karnataka is not exempted from it. The natives of this region ascribe the cause of mental illness to the spirit or demigod, and they seek the help of traditional healers such as spirit dancers for the recovery. This help-seeking behaviour of the people results in delay in seeking psychiatry care and affects the recovery of the person with mental health problems. Therefore, this study explores the opinion of clients undergone traditional healing for mental health problems and the results of the study could contribute to planning an appropriate health promotion activity to promote community mental health. METHODS The present study was explorative, undertaken in the Udupi district of Karnataka state, which explores the views of the respondents about the cause of mental health problem and the outcome of traditional healing for their problems. Altogether 200 clients visiting traditional healers for mental health care were interviewed based on the snowball sampling technique and the interview schedule was used as a tool to gather the data. RESULTS Of the 200 respondents interviewed, 27.5 percent were adults (31 to 40 years), while 43.1 percent were unemployed. Black magic was found to be the major cause for mental health problems among 25.5 percent of the respondents; whereas, 26 percent of the respondents felt recovered completely after undergoing traditional healing for mental health problems. CONCLUSIONS The recognition of mental health problems is very much essential for people with mental health problems to seek professional help. This could help mental health professionals to diagnose illness at the very beginning and provide better mental health care. However, the explanatory model of the patients needs to be taken into consideration while providing modern medical care. KEY WORDS Black Magic, Mental Illness, Serpent Worship, Spirt Dancer, Traditional Healers

scholarly journals Cross-sectional study of mental health related knowledge and attitudes among care assistant workers in Guangzhou, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Li ◽  
Xiao-Ling Duan ◽  
Hua-Qing Zhong ◽  
Wen Chen ◽  
Sara Evans‑Lacko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Linear Regression ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Health Related

Abstract Background Care assistant workers (CAWs) are a part of a new pattern of mental health care providers in China and play a significant role in bridging the human resource shortage. CAWs in China mainly include community cadres, community mental health staff, and community policemen. The mental health related knowledge and attitudes of CAWs could influence their mental health care delivery. This study aimed to assess mental health related knowledge and attitudes of CAWs in Guangzhou, China. Methods In November 2017, a study was conducted among 381 CAWs from four districts of Guangzhou, China. Participants were assessed using the Perceived Devaluation and Discrimination Scale (PDD), the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS), and the Mental illness: Clinicians’ Attitudes (MICA) Scale. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Bonferroni corrections and multivariable linear regression. Results The mean scores (standard deviation) of PDD, MAKS and MICA were 36.45 (6.54), 22.72 (2.56), and 51.67 (7.88), respectively. Univariate analyses showed that the older CAWs, community policemen and those who were less willing to deliver care to people with mental illness had significant higher MICA scores when compared with other staff (P < 0.001). Multivariable linear regression showed that after controlling for key variables, care willingness and PDD total score were positively associated with the MICA total score (all P < 0.05), while attitudes on additional items were significant negatively with the MICA total score (all P < 0.01). Conclusion These findings suggest negative attitudes towards people with mental disorders among CAWs are common, especially among older staff. Community policemen suggest that they applied stereotypes of “violent mentally ill” people to all people they deal with who have mental disorders. The results also indicate human rights are being paid some attention to now, but need to be further continually improved in the future. Strategies for improving such negative attitudes and reducing the perceived stigma and discrimination should be carried out towards particular staff groups in an anti-stigma programme in Guangzhou, China.

Predictors of Access to Mental Health Care Services Among Persons with Severe Mental Disorders: A Community-Based Study from Rural South India

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (01) ◽  
pp. 34-40
Author(s):  
Vijaya Raghavan ◽  
Aishwarya Gonzalez Cherubal ◽  
Sujit John ◽  
Kotteswara Rao ◽  
R. Padmavati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
South India ◽  
Severe Mental Disorders ◽  
Rural South ◽  
Care Services

Background: Various factors are associated with access to care among patients with severe mental disorders (SMD). The aim of this study was to identify the predictors of access to care among patients with SMD in rural south India. Methods: The study was conducted in Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu, India. After screening and confirmation of SMD by community level workers and trained mental health workers, participants were classified as those who have at some time sought treatment and those who have never accessed mental health care services. Results: Among 422 participants with SMD, 74% had at some point in time accessed mental health care services. Logistic regression showed education asthe predictor of access to mental health care services among patients with severe mental disorders. Conclusion: Improving education and awareness on the mental illness and its treatment options will help the patients with mental illness to seek care early leading to favorable outcomes.

scholarly journals Predictors of Access to Mental Health Care Services Among Persons with Severe Mental Disorders: A Community-Based Study from Rural South India

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (01) ◽  
pp. 34-40
Author(s):  
Vijaya Raghavan ◽  
Aishwarya Gonzalez Cherubal ◽  
Sujit John ◽  
Kotteswara Rao ◽  
R. Padmavati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
South India ◽  
Severe Mental Disorders ◽  
Rural South ◽  
Care Services

Background: Various factors are associated with access to care among patients with severe mental disorders (SMD). The aim of this study was to identify the predictors of access to care among patients with SMD in rural south India. Methods: The study was conducted in Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu, India. After screening and confirmation of SMD by community level workers and trained mental health workers, participants were classified as those who have at some time sought treatment and those who have never accessed mental health care services. Results: Among 422 participants with SMD, 74% had at some point in time accessed mental health care services. Logistic regression showed education asthe predictor of access to mental health care services among patients with severe mental disorders. Conclusion: Improving education and awareness on the mental illness and its treatment options will help the patients with mental illness to seek care early leading to favorable outcomes.

A Tribute to the Late William J. Curran

1996 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 274-275
Author(s):  
O. Lawrence ◽  
J.D. Gostin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Harvard University ◽  
Legal Medicine ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
International Institute ◽  
University Professor

In the summer of 1979, a group of experts on law, medicine, and ethics assembled in Siracusa, Sicily, under the auspices of the International Commission of Jurists and the International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Science, to draft guidelines on the rights of persons with mental illness. Sitting across the table from me was a quiet, proud man of distinctive intelligence, William J. Curran, Frances Glessner Lee Professor of Legal Medicine at Harvard University. Professor Curran was one of the principal drafters of those guidelines. Many years later in 1991, after several subsequent re-drafts by United Nations (U.N.) Rapporteur Erica-Irene Daes, the text was adopted by the U.N. General Assembly as the Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and for the Improvement of Mental Health Care. This was the kind of remarkable achievement in the field of law and medicine that Professor Curran repeated throughout his distinguished career.

Religious advisors’ role in mental health care in the European Study of the Epidemiology of Mental Disorders survey

2009 ◽  
Vol 45 (10) ◽  
pp. 989-998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviane Kovess-Masfety ◽  
◽  
Anne Dezetter ◽  
Ron de Graaf ◽  
Joseph Maria Haro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
European Study

The importance of peer support in the recovery process of persons with mental disorders

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
D Stimac Grbic ◽  
I Pavic Simetin ◽  
A Istvanovic
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Community Intervention ◽  
Recovery Process ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Hospital Treatment ◽  
Personal Recovery

Abstract Issue Care for people with severe mental disorders requires approach that is focused on a person's strengths, not his weaknesses, and is a shift from a deficit model that is often associated with mental illness. Care users and their family members play an important role in this approach. Description of the Problem Mental disorders are the leading group of diseases in Croatia, according to the number of days of hospital treatment. The number of hospitalizations is high, and the rate of hospitalization for depression has tripled in the last twenty years. Such indicators highlight the need for reorientation of mental health care, from hospital-based to community-based, by organizing mobile community intervention teams. Results In Croatia, psychosocial peer teams were established by the NGO Ludruga, financed by local government, to provide peer support to persons with mental disorders. The main activities are: development of a personal recovery plan, home visits and providing psychological support to persons with mental disorders, organizing support groups and education of peer workers. The teams consist of a peer worker, social worker, psychologist, and operate under the supervision of a psychiatrist. The teams have been operating for five years, have had over a hundred users so far and are a significant help to the healthcare system in preventing rehospitalizations. Lessons The goal of therapeutic interventions in mental health care should be recovery. Recovery involves empowering a person to take responsibility for themselves and their health. Peer workers play an important role in the recovery process, providing hope for recovery. Their role must also be recognized by the health system. Key messages People with mental disorders and their families should be co-creators of care and recovery-oriented interventions. Only by comprehensive interventions, tackling all determinants of health, therapeutic goal can be achieved.

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