Principal of the Psychiatric Nurses Training College at Ankaful in Cape Coast, Madam Grace Aba Inkoom, has passionately appealed to government to “reinstitute risk allowance for psychiatric nurses” to motivate them to give off their best.

According to her, it is very dangerous to be a psychiatric nurse because of the calibre of people you have to take care of, hence the need to set aside some motivational packages for the “risks involved in the discharge of our duties.”

“If our nurses should tell you their stories, you will see how much they are suffering so I’m urging government to think about us and do something,” she appealed.

Madam Inkoom made this appeal during the 4th graduation and matriculation ceremony of the College in Cape Coast last week.

She revealed that the College since its establishment in 2003 has been the centre for the production of quality mental health professionals, adding that it also runs mental health affiliation programmes for most of the other nursing training institutions in the country.

She observed that the brain is the most neglected faculty or dimension of health responsible for the cause of about 30% of people on general admission.

“It is therefore very important that we all attain sound mental health status in order to achieve total health,” she stated.

She bemoaned the attitude and professional conduct of some nurses which is dishonouring the nursing profession, saying the situation is gradually becoming alarming and worrying due to complaints they received from people.

Madam Inkoom added that the “unprofessional conducts” of some nurses is purely an “attitudinal thing” saying the College has a course which takes students through the code of conduct and what is expected of them.

“So with the bad nuts, it is their attitude because the students come from different backgrounds,” she explained.

The principal also advised parents not to force their wards to do nursing, stressing that “nursing is a calling and they must have the passion for it before they get themselves into the field.”

She therefore advised the 115 grandaunts and 303 matriculants to work hard and always do the right thing, adding that “nobody will be lenient with you if you are found to be negligent.”

For his part, Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Mr. George Kumi Kyeremeh, whose speech was read on his behalf in his keynote address, pointed out that at least 10,250,000 Ghanaians representing 41% who are predominantly women were suffering from mental distress and depression.

According to him, a health survey conducted in 2010 established that the mental health situation in the country results in at least the loss of seven per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually.

He indicated that mental health has become a “silent national crisis” owing to the very poor quality mental health care, and thus called for a prompt attention to mental distress and depression.

Central Regional Minister, Mr. Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, also in a speech read on his behalf, stated that government recognises the role psychiatric nurses play in the development of the country and is committed to ensuring that all their needs and challenges are met.