A forum has been held for personnel of the Ghana Prisons Service to sensitise them on issues of mental health and how to manage work-related stress.
It was also to create a supportive environment where personnel could openly discuss mental health concerns and seek support.
It was organised by BasicNeeds-Ghana, a non-government organisation, as part of activities to mark this year’s World Mental Health Day, which was on the theme: “It’s Time to Prioritise Mental Health at the Workplace.”
Mr. Peter Bedimak Yaro, Executive Director, BasicNeeds-Ghana, speaking at the forum in Tamale, said it was in recognition of the unique challenges faced by personnel of the Ghana Prisons Service.
Mr. Yaro touched on the stressful nature of the work of the prison officers and the potential risks to their mental health saying, “We chose the Ghana Prisons Service because of the critical role you play in maintaining national security, and the need to prioritise your mental well-being.”
He said workers needed peace of mind and a conducive working environment to boost productivity and called for employee assistance initiatives to ensure support for workers in terms of mental well-being.
Reverend Adam Dokurugu Yahaya, Head of Programmes, BasicNeeds-Ghana, in a presentation, mentioned poor working environments including discrimination, inequality, excessive workloads, and job insecurity as key factors affecting mental well-being of employees.
Reverend Yahaya advised employees to focus on a few tasks at a time, avoid overtime, take breaks during workdays, and maintain a healthy work-life balance adding, “your home should not be an extension of your workplace.”
Hajia Lamnatu Adam, Executive Director, Songtaba, expressed the need for organisations to create space for staff engagement to encourage open discussion of workplace issues to prevent mental health concerns.
Superintendent David Kwame Afachao, Public Relations Officer, Ghana Prisons Service, Northern Region, expressed gratitude to the partners for organising the forum saying, “Mental health issues are a concern for everyone in Ghana, and particularly for us in the Prisons Service given the nature of our work.”
He said the work of the personnel of the Prisons Service was demanding as they worked throughout the day and often remained at work beyond regular schedules to address issues.
He said lessons learnt during the forum would help officers to adjust to their work environment and job schedules to mitigate mental health concerns.
