Alcohol abuse has emerged as the top mental disorder among military officers in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

The statistics also show that 70 percent of alcohol abusers in the military are male.

The figure was released by the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), Major General Thomas Oppong-Prempeh.

The overall number of mental disorders recorded annually, he noted, is 1,300.

He has therefore instructed the Department of Medical Services under GAF to roll out initiatives to minimize the figures.

The 1,300 figure, he said, has become an annual issue since 2021.

He disclosed this at the climax of GAF Men’s Mental Awareness Week in Accra, which was under the theme “Promoting the Mental Health of Men in Gender-Sensitive Armed Forces.”

“In the Ghana Armed Forces, mental health cases have risen since 2017, and by the close of 2019, a total of 614 cases were recorded for both males and females. However, post-COVID-19 statistics have shown a marked increase, with a total average of about 1,300 cases per year from 2021 to 2023, with about 70 percent being male,” he said.

According to him, the most worrying indication is that alcohol use disorder is at the top of the list.

He lamented that mental health is one of the issues that is hardly discussed in the military, but going forward, it will change.

He further opined that the detrimental effect of stigma on people with mental health disorders has serious implications, including suicidal tendencies for those with these challenges.

He asserted that it is also a challenge that, in spite of the high suicide rate, men have fewer reported cases of depression, a condition considered a significant suicidal risk factor.

He attributed this to gender roles established by society.

He noted that a lot of responsibilities are placed on men, resulting in excessive pressure on them.

He said there are those who will not seek help for their mental health disorders due to stigma, while others may not even be aware of their challenges.

He therefore called on personnel of the GAF to be each other’s keeper.

“Let us all strive to avoid substance abuse, excessive alcohol, gambling, and unnecessary spending and organize our finances in order to live healthier lives going forward,” he added.