The document outlines the history of psychiatric nursing in Ghana, covering its evolution from traditional healing practices to the establishment of formal training programs and psychiatric hospitals. Key highlights include the role of colonial authorities, the introduction of structured psychiatric care, and the shift toward community-based mental health services. It also addresses current challenges, such as staffing shortages and stigma, while emphasizing the importance of patient-centered care in psychiatric nursing.

1. THE HISTORY OF
PSYCHIATRIC NURSING
IN GHANA
GROUP 3

2. PRESENTATION
OUTLINE
 Introduction to Psychiatric
Nursing
 Overview of Mental Health in
Ghana
 Early Beginnings (Pre-Colonial
and Colonial Era)
 Establishment of Asylum
 Role of Colonial Authorities
 Early Psychiatric Nurses
 Development of Psychiatric
Training in the 1950s
 Establishment of Ankaful
Psychiatric Hospital
 The Role of Dr. Kwasi Osei
 Nursing Curriculum Evolution
in the 1960s
 Role of Nurses in
Psychiatric Hospitals
 Growth of Psychiatric
Nursing in the 1970s
and 1980s
 Integration of Mental
Health in General
Nursing
 The Shift Toward
Community-Based
Care
 Challenges in
Psychiatric Nursing
 references

3. Introduction to
Psychiatric Nursing
Psychiatric Nursing is a specialized
area of nursing practice focused on
the care and treatment of
individuals with mental health
disorders. It involves the
assessment, diagnosis, and
treatment of psychiatric conditions,
ensuring the emotional and
psychological well-being of
patients.

4. Overview of Mental
Health in Ghana
Brief Overview of Mental Health
Awareness in Ghana Before
Psychiatric Care:
• Mental health issues were often
misunderstood and attributed to
supernatural or spiritual causes.
• Limited awareness of psychiatric
conditions led to stigmatization
and neglect of individuals with
mental health disorders.

5. Cultural Perceptions of
Mental Illness:
• Mental illness was often seen as a
result of spiritual possession or
curses.
• Traditional healers and spiritual
leaders were the primary sources
of mental health intervention.
• Isolation and exclusion from
society were common treatments.

6. Early Beginnings (Pre-
Colonial and Colonial
Era)
• Mental illness was addressed
through traditional healing
practices, including herbal
medicine, spiritual rituals, and
community support.
• British colonial rule introduced
Western medical practices,
including psychiatry.
• Early efforts were aimed at
controlling mental health issues

7. Establishment of
Asylum
• Initial psychiatric facilities were
established to house individuals
with severe mental health
conditions.
• The Opening of Accra Psychiatric
Hospital in 1906:
• Accra Psychiatric Hospital became
the first psychiatric institution in
Ghana.
• The facility primarily focused on

9. Role of Colonial
Authorities
• Mental health care under colonial
rule emphasized confinement for
public safety rather than holistic
care.
• The focus was on controlling
individuals deemed as "mentally
unstable" rather than providing
therapeutic interventions.
• Psychiatric institutions served as
custodial spaces for people with

10. Early Psychiatric Nurses
• Early psychiatric nurses were
recruited primarily from general
nursing pools.
• Their role was limited to custodial
care and basic medical support for
psychiatric patients.
• Early psychiatric nurses ensured the
confinement and safety of patients.
• They provided basic nursing care,
medication administration, and

11. Development of
Psychiatric Training in
the 1950s
• Psychiatric nursing began to evolve
as a specialized field with the
introduction of formal training
programs.
• The establishment of training
programs for psychiatric nurses
marked a significant step in
professionalizing mental health
care.
• The programs provided nurses with

12. Establishment of
Ankaful Psychiatric
Hospital
• Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital, located in
Cape Coast, was officially opened in
1965.
• It became one of the leading psychiatric
hospitals in Ghana, offering specialized
care for mental health patients.
• The hospital played a key role in
advancing psychiatric care and served as
a training center for psychiatric nurses.
• Ankaful became a cornerstone for
psychiatric education, research, and the

14. The Role of Dr. Kwasi
Osei
• Dr. Kwasi Osei is recognized for his
leadership in shaping Ghana's psychiatric
nursing education and services.
• He introduced modern psychiatric nursing
practices and advocated for improved
mental health policies
• Under Dr. Osei’s leadership, the mental
health system in Ghana became more
structured, with an emphasis on patient-
centered care.
• His work contributed to the formalization
of psychiatric nurse training programs and
the expansion of mental health services in

15. Nursing Curriculum
Evolution in the 1960s
• In the 1960s, there was a significant
shift towards structured training
programs for psychiatric nurses,
focusing on clinical skills and patient
care.
• Psychiatric nursing was formally
integrated into the general nursing
curriculum.
• This ensured that nurses had a
foundational understanding of mental
health care and were better equipped
to handle psychiatric conditions in

16. Role of Nurses in
Psychiatric Hospitals
• Psychiatric nurses were responsible for
administering medication, monitoring
patient progress, and providing therapeutic
interventions.
• They played a crucial role in rehabilitation,
patient counseling, and helping patients
reintegrate into society.
• Psychiatric nurses employed various
therapeutic techniques such as counseling,
cognitive-behavioral therapy, and crisis
intervention.
• Nurses also worked closely with families to
ensure continuous support for patients
after discharge.

17. Growth of Psychiatric
Nursing in the 1970s and
1980s
• During the 1970s and 1980s, there
was significant growth in the
establishment of psychiatric care
facilities across Ghana
• Psychiatric nursing training
programs were expanded to meet
the growing demand for mental
health services.

18. Integration of Mental
Health in General
Nursing
• Mental health education is increasingly
being incorporated into the general
nursing curriculum.
• General nurses are being equipped
with basic psychiatric skills to provide
mental health support in non-
specialized healthcare settings.
• This integration ensures that mental
health issues are recognized and
managed early, even in primary
healthcare settings.

19. The Shift Toward
Community-Based Care
• A significant shift from institutional-based
to community-based care.
• Mental health services were integrated
into district hospitals and primary
healthcare systems.
• Nurses began working more within
communities, providing mental health
education, early intervention, and home-
based care.
• Focus on reducing the stigma
surrounding mental illness by promoting
mental health awareness and support in

20. Current State of
Psychiatric Nursing in
Ghana
• Psychiatric nurses now work in diverse
settings, including psychiatric hospitals,
general hospitals, and community health
centers.
• Increased focus on patient-centered care,
early intervention, and rehabilitation
services.
• Psychiatric nurses are involved in both
public and private healthcare facilities,
contributing significantly to mental
health service delivery.
• Integration of mental health services into

21. Challenges in Psychiatric
Nursing in Ghana
Staffing Shortages:
• One of the major challenges in
psychiatric nursing was the lack of
sufficient staff to meet the needs of
patients in psychiatric facilities.
• This issue led to burnout among existing
staff and affected the quality of care
provided.
• Mental health was heavily stigmatized,
which also affected psychiatric nursing as
a profession.
• Nurses working in psychiatric care often

22. THANK YOU

23. References
1. Ghana Mental Health Authority. (2012). Mental Health
Act, 2012 (Act 846). [Online] Available:
Ghana Mental Health Authority
2. World Health Organization. (2017). Mental Health Atlas
2017: Country Profile for Ghana. [Online] Available: WHO
3. Osei, E. Y. (2014). The Role of Mental Health Services in
Ghana: A Historical Perspective. Journal of Psychiatry,
17(3), 123-130.
4. BasicNeeds Ghana. (2020). Annual Report 2020:
Advancing Mental Health Care in Ghana. [Online]
Available: BasicNeeds
5. Ghana Health Service. (2019). National Mental Health
Policy. [Online] Available: GHS
6. Ghana Nursing and Midwifery Council. (2018).
Nursing Education Curriculum. [Online] Available: GNMC

24. GROUP MEMBERS
NAME INDEX NO. CONTACT NO.
DIMBIE MUTIF MUMUNI 72201822 0546137056
ANIAH JOSEPH ABAGMBIRE 72201922 0202302300
ACKAH EMMANUEL 72202022 0243556391
ADU WILLIAMS 72202122 0241874676
ADDO STEPHEN BUGYEI 72202322 0241638922
ANORMAH MATTHEW 72202422 0540534281
OKYERE PRUDENCE 72202522 0244715539
NYARKO RUTH SERWAH 72202722 0540773455