THE French Embassy in Ghana is supporting a project that aims at suicide prevention through social inclusion and sports.
The beneficiaries of the project include caregivers, the mentally-challenged and staff of the Accra, Ankaful and Pantang psychiatric hospitals in the country.
The French Ambassador to Ghana, Mrs Anne Sophie AVÈ, at the kicking off of the 2019 Sports tournament at S Thomas Acquinas Senior High School, on October 24, said that sports reduced the symptoms of depression and anxiety and builds self-confidence.
She asked caregivers and staff of the Accra, Ankaful and Pantang psychiatric hospitals to take good care of patients.
She said sports equipment such as tennis table, volleyball and football filet were donated to the participants.
Mrs AVÈ said the project sought to improve the well-being of patients, raise awareness among Ghanaians and to train psychiatric health professionals.
The French Embassy, she said was providing support through Care and Action for Mental Health in Africa, a non-governmental organisations, affiliated with Harm Reduction Alliance of Ghana.
The project is dubbed “Innovative Projects of Civil Societies and Coalitions of Actors,” PISCCA 2019-2020, with the aim of structuring and strengthening capacities of Ghanaian civil society organisations through training and financing of innovative projects.
It forms part of the “Promotion of Mental Health and wellness through Sports,” being supported by the French Embassy.
Sporting activities such as football has been identified as one important event that promotes good health and prevention of social vices such as suicide.
According to sports scientists, persons who socialise and take active part in games lived a happy lifestyle, and those, who speak about depression, anxiety and challenges often engage in suicide.
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
