Bel Aqua urges corporate Ghana to invest in youth mental health

Bel Aqua's Head of Marketing, Chris Addo Sarkodie, has called on the Ghanaian business community to prioritize and increase investment in mental health support for young people. Speaking at the company’s 15th-anniversary celebration and the fourth edition of its mental health initiative, Sarkodie emphasized the urgent need for corporate intervention as depression and societal pressures continue to affect the youth significantly.

The initiative provided free consultations with professional psychologists, drawing a large number of attendees, many of whom were university students. According to Sarkodie, these interactions revealed a deep-seated struggle among young people with their mental well-being. To address this, Bel Aqua plans to introduce mobile mental health clinics specifically designed for educational institutions and workplaces, aiming to bring professional support directly to those who need it most.

The crisis is underscored by staggering statistics showing that over 4 million Ghanaians face mental health challenges, yet 98% of them lack access to necessary treatment. This gap is attributed to pervasive social stigma and a critical shortage of medical personnel, with fewer than 60 practicing psychiatrists available nationwide. By urging other corporations to join the effort, Bel Aqua hopes to mitigate the treatment gap and foster a more supportive environment for mental health across the country.