A pilot study on maternal mental health in Ghana has exposed widespread psychological distress among pregnant and postpartum women, revealing that many are silently battling depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts without detection or support.
The findings, shared during the launch of Ghana’s first-ever Maternal Mental Health Policy (MMHP) in Accra on Thursday, indicate that while 6.38 per cent of women screened during the pilot tested positive for a mental health condition, the real scale of the problem may be much higher.
Dr Promise Sefogah, Lecturer at the University of Ghana Medical School, explained that the pilot study, conducted across five regions—Northern, Bono East, Eastern, Greater Accra, and Ashanti—screened 5,960 women using a simplified mental health tool (PHQ-4 plus a suicide-risk question). Of these, 380 women were identified with depression, anxiety, or suicidal ideation, including nearly 200 reporting suicidal thoughts over just four months.
“Postpartum mental health challenges are intensified by sudden hormonal changes after delivery, compounded by physical recovery, sleep deprivation, and the demands of newborn care,” Dr Sefogah said. He noted that in some northern communities, postpartum depression rates have been observed to reach as high as 50 per cent.
The study also highlighted systemic and cultural gaps in care. Up to 70 per cent of healthcare providers reported lacking the knowledge or capacity to identify or manage maternal mental health conditions, while stigma and beliefs attributing symptoms to spiritual causes delayed medical intervention in approximately 65 per cent of cases. Socioeconomic pressures, including financial hardship, marital conflict, and lack of support, further increased vulnerability, particularly among women with disabilities, who were found to be up to five times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts.
Dr Sefogah stressed that only about one-third of women identified as suicidal were successfully referred for treatment, pointing to unclear referral pathways and inadequate training as major barriers. Alarmingly, maternal distress often persisted or worsened beyond the standard six-week postpartum care period, indicating a need for extended monitoring.
The MMHP aims to integrate routine mental health screening into antenatal and postnatal care, leveraging brief tools like the PHQ-4, which can be effectively administered by trained frontline workers for early detection. Dr Sefogah called for nationwide scaling of community engagement, enhanced health worker training, and clear referral systems to address the crisis.
“Maternal mental health is no longer a hidden issue. Its impact extends to children, families, and society at large. Immediate action is essential to protect the well-being of mothers and the families who rely on them,” he warned.
This policy launch marks a crucial step towards prioritising psychological care alongside physical health in Ghana’s maternal health agenda.
