Department of Educational Psychology
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Browsing Department of Educational Psychology by Author "Asafo, Seth Mawusi"
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- ItemUnderstanding of mental illness and mental healthcare in Ghana : opportunities for collaboration and challenges(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-12) Asafo, Seth Mawusi; Swartz, Leslie, 1955-; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Educational Psychology.ENGLISH SUMMARY : Ghana has a vibrant pluralistic health system. Unfortunately, the mental health sector is dominated by an ineffectual biomedical mental health system. Professional and lay mental health systems coexist; key among them is the faith healing system. There have been several calls for collaboration between different providers of mental health services to provide holistic mental health care, which has led to a research interest in understanding the factors that shape collaborative efforts among various mental health practitioners. This study explored social constructions of mental illness within the faith-based healing system in Ghana, how these shape diagnosis and treatment practices, and the possibility for collaboration with biomedical practitioners. Three objectives were addressed: understanding of mental illness in faith-based centres, healing processes and practices for mental illness, and the possibility for collaboration with biomedical practitioners. A qualitative method was used, with data gathered through ethnography, involving interviews with 20 purposively selected participants, in combination with observation. A thematic analysis of the data showed that the respondents made sense of mental illness using symptomatology and categorisation. Healing processes and practices involved diagnosing origin, determining the category and administering healing and treatment. Collaboration between faith-based and biomedical practitioners provides several opportunities, but is also impeded by several barriers (differences in diagnostic and treatment practice, control, autonomy and power in biomedical mental health practice, and recognition and respect of faith-based practice). The findings are discussed within the context of providing comprehensive and holistic mental health care in Ghana.