Ms Akosua Serwaah Bonsu, the Eastern Regional Coordinator of Mental Health, has called on mental health workers to conduct research into causes of various types of mental sickness in their operational areas as their contribution towards the development of mental health service in the country.

She said such research findings could help inform policy makers and help shape policies on mental health.

Ms Bonsu was speaking at the Eastern Regional 2018 Annual Mental Health Performance Review Meeting at Koforidua.

She said research on mental health in the country is very limited and the Eastern Region could take the lead by conducting more research to help develop the sector.

She called on mental health workers in the region to collaborate with herbal and faith-based centers in the region that deal with mental health issues to help protect the rights of persons with mental challenges.

Ms Bonsu said in 2018, the Eastern Region recorded 7,698 new mental health cases.

Dr Emmanuel Amoah, the Deputy Director of Health Service in-charge of Clinical Care in the region, commended the mental health workers in the region and said their mode of operation could be adopted as a model for dealing with the challenges of non-communicable diseases in the region.

Mr Peter Boateng, the Eastern Regional Health Administrator, called on the District Directors of Health Service to corperate with the mental health workers in their district and support them with the necessary resources to enable them to bring their services closer to those in need them.