RELIGION AND MENTAL HEALTH IN GHANA: THE CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This paper deals with Religion and Mental Health in Ghana. It discusses how religion influences the perceptions and treatment of mental illness among a section of people in Ghana. Two Christian Camps: Tafilah Prayer Centre in Oyibi in the Greater Accra Region and “Agbelengor” Prayer Camp at Tokokoe in the Volta Region were selected for the study. This paper was achieved by the stated objectives: To find out the category of people who visit the religious centers for the treatment of mental Illness. To examine the methodology used by the religious leaders for the treatment of their patients. To explore the experiences of the mental health beneficiaries of spiritual healer services. The paper adopted qualitative research design for data gathering. In-depth interviews were held with four religious leaders and ten mentally ill patients. Discussants in the focus group discussions comprised both male and female groupings made up of eight groups. Participant and non-participant observations as tools were used for additional information. The in-dept interviews plus the focus group discussions were all recorded, transcribed into English language for easy interpretation. Themes were formed from important information gotten from the data. The findings of this paper showed: Some of the centers use prayer, chanting, holy water, and black seed oil as mediums for healing their patients. It was also revealed that there is spirituality involve in their treatment regimen, and Biblical verses were recited to exorcise spirits