Thousands of Pregnant and Postpartum Women in Ghana at Risk of Mental Health Crisis

Accra, April 3, – A pilot study on maternal mental health in Ghana has revealed that thousands of pregnant and postpartum women are silently grappling with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, often without detection or adequate support.

The findings were presented during the launch of Ghana’s first Maternal Mental Health Policy (MMHP) in Accra. Dr Promise Sefogah, Lecturer at the University of Ghana Medical School, reported that the pilot study screened 5,960 women across five regions—Northern, Bono East, Eastern, Greater Accra, and Ashanti—using a simplified mental health tool (PHQ-4 plus a suicide-risk question).

380 women screened positive for depression, anxiety, or suicidal ideation.
Suicidal thoughts were reported in 3.3 per cent of participants, nearly 200 women, within four months.
Postpartum depression rates in some northern communities were recorded as high as 50 per cent.

Key Contributing Factors

Dr Sefogah identified a combination of biological, social, and systemic factors:

Hormonal shifts after childbirth, including sudden drops in estrogen and progesterone, which affect “feel-good” brain chemicals.
Stress from newborn care, physical recovery, and sleep deprivation.
Systemic gaps: maternal health records include only a single mental health question, with limited structured screening.
Healthcare provider limitations: about 70% of providers reported lacking the knowledge or capacity to manage maternal mental health disorders.
Stigma and cultural beliefs: around 65% of women attributed symptoms to spiritual causes, delaying clinical intervention.
Socioeconomic pressures: financial hardship, marital conflict, lack of support, and unemployment.
Women with disabilities were up to five times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts.

Challenges in Care

The study highlighted a critical breakdown in referral pathways: only one-third of women identified as suicidal were successfully referred for further treatment due to unclear referral systems and insufficient training. Mental health challenges were found to persist and even intensify beyond the typical six-week postpartum period during child welfare clinic visits.

Way Forward

The study advocates for:

Integrating routine mental health screening into antenatal and postnatal care nationwide.
Scaling up community engagement and health worker training.
Establishing clear referral systems.
Embedding mental health screening into standard maternal care protocols.

Dr Sefogah emphasised: “This is not a hidden issue anymore. The evidence is clear. We must prioritise the mental well-being of mothers as much as their physical health. Without intervention, hundreds of mothers and their families remain at risk.”

Ghana’s Maternal Mental Health Policy aims to ensure early detection, timely support, and holistic care for mothers across the country.

GHBUSS