A Senior Psychiatric Specialist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Dr. Gordon Donnir, has advocated the setting up of psychiatric units in all health facilities in the country to increase access to holistic medical care.

According to him, the current practice where psychiatric facilities are distanced from mainstream hospitals serves as a disincentive to the well-being of mental patients.

Dr. Donnir further maintained that victims of non-communicable diseases such as Hypertension, Diabetes and end-stage kidney problems as a reaction from the condition, may present symptoms that might look like psychiatric problems.

As such, they will require consultation-liaison services from the psychiatrist for a conclusive diagnosis.

Dr. Gordon Donnir was delivering a lecture on “Psychiatry Practice in the General Hospital Setting”, in Kumasi.

He therefore, appealed for the training of more specialists, nurses and other medical staff to enable them offer inter-dependent optimal general care to match up with the expanding multidisciplinary and sub-disciplinary structures of mental health.

The ceremony was held in commemoration of the World Mental Health Day, which coincided with the out dooring of the ‘Alcoholic and Narcotic Anonymous’- a drug addiction rehabilitation group.

“The practice of psychiatry in a general hospital results in the multidisciplinary practice of medicine, knowledge and skill transfer/sharing, de-stigmatization and most importantly mutual respect and understanding among disciplines”, he added.