Kaapuori Alliance Pathways has marked World Mental Health Day with a therapeutic walk to Ombuonawura in the Nadowli-Kaleo District of the Upper West Region, calling for an end to stigma and discrimination against persons living with mental health conditions.
The event, organised in collaboration with the Upper West Regional Health Directorate’s Keep Fit Club, Healthways Foundation, Jonjo Palace and other partners, was held under the theme “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.”
The activity sought to raise awareness of mental health, promote physical exercise and encourage stronger social connections as part of efforts to improve mental well-being.
Organisers said the theme emphasised the importance of listening to persons with lived experience of mental health conditions and ensuring their voices are included in decisions affecting their care, rights and recovery.
The Regional Mental Health Focal Person for the Upper West Region, Sylvester Basagnia, explained that mental health advocacy should go beyond speaking on behalf of affected persons to creating opportunities for them to share their experiences and perspectives.
He said the public needed to understand the journeys of persons living with mental health conditions, from diagnosis and treatment to recovery and reintegration into society.
He further noted that mental health challenges could affect anyone, regardless of social status, profession or economic background. Financial difficulties, relationship problems, workplace demands and other everyday pressures, he said, could affect people’s mental well-being.
He therefore urged the public to move beyond stereotypes and treat persons experiencing mental health challenges with understanding, respect and dignity.
The focal person identified stigma and discrimination as major barriers to recovery, urging individuals and communities to show compassion and support towards persons living with mental health conditions.
“Stigma is one key barrier to recovery. Let us not point fingers. Let us accept and embrace persons living with mental health conditions because it could be any of us,” a representative said.
He cautioned against derogatory labels that reduce individuals to their conditions, stressing that people should be addressed by their names rather than defined by their mental health challenges.
The public was encouraged to use respectful language and create supportive environments where people experiencing mental health difficulties could seek help without fear of ridicule, rejection or discrimination.
The mental health focal person also called for stronger family and community support systems, urging people to practise forgiveness, maintain healthy relationships and support one another during difficult times.
Bashit Kuberike, a representative of a youth group at Jonjo Palace in Wa, expressed concern about growing dependence on mobile phones and social media, observing that people increasingly gathered in the same spaces without engaging in face-to-face conversations.
The representative said direct communication provided opportunities for people to share their concerns, express their feelings and ease some of the pressures associated with everyday life.
Participants were encouraged to make time for meaningful conversations with family members, friends and colleagues rather than allowing digital communication to replace personal relationships.
He stressed that stronger social connections could help reduce isolation and create supportive environments where people felt comfortable discussing their challenges and seeking assistance when necessary.
The Coordinator of Kaapuori Alliance Pathways, Moeinu Izza-deen, said the organisation had over the years marked World Mental Health Day through activities such as awareness walks and educational programmes.
According to the Coordinator, the organisation evolved from the Kapulu Children’s Resource Foundation and had undertaken school-based sensitisation activities, particularly on drug abuse and mental health awareness.
He explained that this year’s activity was designed to extend the conversation beyond schoolchildren and people receiving mental health care to include young people and working professionals dealing with financial, occupational and family pressures.
The therapeutic walk, he said, provided participants with an opportunity to engage in physical activity, strengthen relationships and refresh themselves before returning to their daily responsibilities.
The organisation also supports vulnerable individuals, particularly children with learning disabilities and people living with health conditions who require assistance. Its interventions include mobilising resources for medical care, sponsoring surgeries and contributing to environmental sanitation and community development.
Moeinu Izza-deen called on individuals, workers and institutions to collaborate with the organisation by sharing ideas and identifying challenges that could be addressed through collective action.
He reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to working with stakeholders to promote mental health awareness, support vulnerable groups and contribute to community development.
The therapeutic walk to Ombuonawura highlighted the importance of combining physical activity, public education and community engagement to promote mental well-being.
Through the initiative, Kaapuori Alliance Pathways and its collaborating partners called for a society in which persons with lived experience of mental health conditions are heard, respected and included in discussions about their care and rights.
The organisers urged the public to reject stigma, strengthen social connections and recognise mental health as a shared responsibility requiring the active participation of individuals, families, health professionals and community institutions.
By: Ahmed Abubakari Saanyuo
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