Journalist calls for inclusive disaster response to protect persons with mental health disorders

The Editor-in-Chief of Apexnewsgh, Mr. Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen, has called for greater attention to the needs of persons living with mental health disorders during emergencies, questioning whether they are adequately considered in Ghana's disaster response efforts.

Mr. Ngamegbulam, who is also a member of the Mental Health Alliance in the Upper East Region, made the remarks following the recent floods in Accra, which displaced more than 30,000 households and claimed at least 12 lives.

Reflecting on the disaster, he expressed concern about the plight of people with severe mental health conditions who live on the streets and may be unable to protect themselves during emergencies.

“I have been thinking about this since the unbearable flooding incident in Accra recently. It appears we are actually not concerned about persons with mental disorders. I’m talking about those roaming the streets, those who sleep anywhere they find or wherever they feel comfortable. Some of these people even have children with them, children who, in many cases, were born from circumstances we may never fully understand, yet we see them every day,” he said.

Mr. Ngamegbulam questioned whether disaster response efforts adequately account for some of the country's most vulnerable people.

“While we’re counting submerged cars, over a thousand, we hear, and tallying up the lives lost or disrupted, do we pause to consider those in our midst with severe mental health conditions? Those who may not even comprehend what’s happening around them, who might be asleep in a corner when the floods come, with no one to call for help, no voice to shout their name?”

He said there is little public discussion about the fate of persons with mental health disorders after disasters and whether they are included in official casualty and rescue efforts.

“These people are among the most vulnerable. Who checks on them after a disaster? Who ensures they are safe, alive, or accounted for among the victims? The number of deaths we record, do we ever know if some of those lost were people with mental health disorders, people whose families may not even be able to identify or claim them? These are questions that demand answers.”

Drawing comparisons with previous public health emergencies, Mr. Ngamegbulam argued that vulnerable groups have often been overlooked during national crises.

“We made a similar oversight during the Ebola crisis. While everyone was rushing for vaccines and taking measures to protect themselves, who paused to think about the predicament of our brothers and sisters with mental health issues? It seems, too often, we only care about ourselves, the so-called ‘right-thinking’ or ‘normal’ people. Those who find themselves living with mental disorders are overlooked, left out of our planning and response in times of crisis.”

He observed that disasters present significant challenges even for people without disabilities and said the risks are considerably greater for those living with mental health conditions.

“Accra is a choked city, and this last flood proved how challenging it is for anyone to survive such disasters, even those of us who are healthy. How much harder, then, is it for those with mental health challenges, who may not understand the danger or know how to seek safety?”

Mr. Ngamegbulam called on government agencies, humanitarian organisations and disaster management authorities to adopt a more inclusive approach that specifically considers the needs of persons with mental health disorders during emergencies.

“In times of challenges like flooding or other disasters, we must find a way to consider and actively save our brothers and sisters who are living with mental health issues. They did not choose their condition, circumstances led them there. We must include them in our emergency plans and activities, not avoid or ignore them because of their situation. This is a shared responsibility, and it is time we act on it.”

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