Accra, Nov. 18, GNA - The Ghana Psychological Association on Thursday called on Ghanaians to seek psychological counselling when confronted with problems and challenges rather than relying solely on pastors and prophets.

"Most problems are not spiritual as people are made to believe but psychological. Spiritual help should therefore go side by side with psychological help", Dr Robert Akuamoah-Boateng, President of the Ghana Psychological Association said.

Speaking at Fourth Annual General Meeting in Accra, Dr Akuamoah-Boateng who is also the Head of the Psychology Department of the University of Ghana said the notion that people who consulted psychologists have mental disorders should be discarded. The meeting was on the theme: Harnessing the expertise of psychologists to deal with psychosocial challenges.

He mentioned indiscipline of all kinds, stress, aggressive behaviour and feeling alienated as some of the psychosocial challenges that people faced.

He noted that it was time for the association to make it services known to the public urging people to also make the effort to contact them at the University.

Dr Akuamoah-Boateng said psychology was the science of behaviour and called on government to tap their expertise for national development.

Mrs Angela Ofori Atta, Deputy Minister, Manpower Development and Employment said a society which does things in excess becomes poisoned and that affected behaviour of people.

She noted that when society got to such a stage the services of psychologists were needed to change behaviour, which, she said, was needed for national development.

"A society which is not assertive, kills initiative, and a society which is stagnant also lacks innovation".

She urged members of the association to make their services known to the public and help shape policies that would move the country forward.