In commemoration of World Mental Health Day 2025, The Wholesome Mind hosted the second edition of The Wholesome Mind Xperience under the theme “Psychological Safety in Children and Adults: Catastrophes and Emergencies in Focus.”
This year’s Xperience brought together a dynamic mix of mental health professionals, legal practitioners, policymakers, emergency responders, and civil society leaders, all united by a shared purpose: to ensure that mental health is no longer sidelined but placed at the heart of Ghana’s disaster response, public health systems, and national planning.
Organised by VINT & Aletheia Attorneys & Consultants, in partnership with the Mental Health Authority, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other key partners, the 2025 edition went beyond raising awareness; it became a rallying point for reform, collaboration, and sustained advocacy.
Dr. Fiona Braka, representing the WHO, emphasized the critical need to integrate mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) into all phases of emergency preparedness and response. She pointed out that while nearly everyone affected by crises experiences psychological distress, one in five individuals develops a mental health condition that requires professional support. Unfortunately, only a few countries in Africa have successfully integrated mental health into their disaster and emergency frameworks. This reality underscores the urgent need to rethink how societies prepare for and recover from trauma, a message that resonated powerfully throughout the event.
One unique feature of The Wholesome Mind Xperience is its exploration of the intersection between law and mental health. Mr. Kow Abaka Essuman, Board Chair of VINT & Aletheia, spoke passionately about the role of lawyers in recognizing and addressing the mental health challenges faced by clients during personal crises. He urged the legal community to become proactive advocates for mental health reform, stressing that legal institutions, such as courts and correctional facilities, must uphold dignity and provide access to mental health support. He also highlighted the urgent need to upgrade the infrastructure of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, particularly its forensic and special wards, describing their current conditions as inconsistent with the humane and restorative care that every Ghanaian deserves.
Mrs. Vivian Ama Dadzie, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Authority, echoed the need to integrate mental health into all aspects of Ghana’s emergency response systems. She pointed to the country’s recurring national tragedies from flooding to road accidents and stressed that true recovery is incomplete when the emotional and psychological impact on survivors is ignored.
Mrs. Dadzie advocated for the establishment of rapid psychological response teams and dedicated mental health budget allocations within national disaster frameworks to ensure comprehensive and sustained care.
A key highlight of the event was the launch of The Wholesome Mind Workbook: Loving, Knowing, Growing Me. This creative and practical self-reflection guide was developed to help individuals cultivate self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and resilience. The workbook reflects the broader mission of The Wholesome Mind Services: empowering individuals to understand, heal, and grow. It bridges science and empathy by providing structured exercises that promote mental wellness as a daily, intentional practice.
Beyond dialogue, this year’s Xperience also marked the launch of The Wholesome Cause — a national fundraising campaign to renovate the Special Ward of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital into Ghana’s first Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
The initiative aims to raise GHS 4 million to create a modern, safe, and dignified facility for individuals experiencing acute mental health crises. Significantly, the Wholesome Mind Project has been recognised as a “Worthwhile Cause” under Ghana’s Income Tax Act, allowing donors to claim tax deductions on their contributions. This campaign embodies TWMS’s vision of turning conversations into concrete change, ensuring that advocacy leads to improved infrastructure, care, and hope for those in crisis.
At The Wholesome Mind Summit, we believe that sustainable change begins when awareness transforms into action and when empathy shapes policy. Through The Wholesome Mind Xperience, we continue to bridge disciplines, connect communities, and drive reform — ensuring that mental wellness becomes a shared national priority.
Our vision remains clear: a Ghana where every individual, regardless of background or circumstance, enjoys psychological safety, access to care, and the right to heal with dignity.
