Caring For The Carers: Mental Health Education For Patients' Relatives at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

A programme of mental health education for relatives and family members of both in-patients and out-patients at the Department of Psychiatry, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has been described. Essentially the programme entailed a short, about ten minutes of introductory talk, followed by a group discussion on an aspect of mental health relevant to the patients' accompanying relatives. The methodology employed some of the “curative factors” in group therapy namely: sharing new information, instilling hope and interpersonal learning. Results from the discussion showed that relatives were eager and anxious to see the mentally ill patient recover as early as possible. In addition it showed that communication between the doctor, the patient and his relative was of utmost importance to accompanying relatives.



IFE Psychologia (2003) 11(2), 52-58