Corporate Ghana is being challenged to step up investment in mental health support for young people facing depression, grief, and societal pressures, warning that many lack safe spaces to speak openly or access professional help.
The call from premium bottled water brand Bel Aqua coincides with its 15th anniversary of operations in Ghana.
The company’s push follows the fourth edition of its mental health initiative, which brought together students, corporate workers, and members of the public for free consultations with psychologists and psychiatrists.
Speaking at the fourth edition of Bel Aqua’s mental health outreach—which provided free, confidential consultations with psychologists and psychiatrists for students, workers, and the general public—Head of Marketing Chris Addo Sarkodie urged the business community to intervene.
“I think 60 per cent of the people that we’ve had today are coming from the universities. And if you listen to them sharing their testimonies and their challenges, I think as a country we need to pay attention to them,” Sarkodie said.
To address the gap directly, Bel Aqua announced plans to roll out mobile mental health clinics, taking certified psychologists and psychiatrists directly into educational institutions and workplaces across the country.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, roughly 13 per cent of Ghana’s population—over 4 million people—live with a mental health condition. However, due to severe infrastructure shortages and high social stigma, an estimated 98 per cent of Ghanaians requiring mental healthcare receive no formal medical treatment.
Ghana currently operates with fewer than 60 practicing psychiatrists nationwide, creating a critical shortage of professional support for young people facing depression, grief, and societal pressures.