Thomas More, a retired nurse, has expressed concerns about the lack of understanding and support for individuals with mental disorders in society. He pointed out that many people still hold misconceptions about mental illness, associating it only with those who appear disoriented or homeless.
However, he emphasized that psychiatric conditions exist in various forms and affect individuals differently, underscoring the need for greater awareness and education.
According to Mr. More, any behavior that is not widely accepted by the majority of society can be considered abnormal, highlighting the need for increased mental health education.
“Our understanding is that a mental patient is somebody who talks to himself while walking on the road or somebody who is not well-dressed or who doesn’t want to talk to anybody and whatnot. There are so many levels of psychiatric patients. Any behavior that is not accepted by the majority of people is an abnormality.”
Mr. More further stressed the importance of prioritizing psychiatric health by educating the public on mental health issues. However, he pointed out that healthcare personnel require adequate funding and support to effectively carry out their tasks.
“You have to go around and educate people more; you have to do a lot of talks, but they need money to go around. They need money, they need fuel. If they don’t have these things, they can’t go around. So we still have to put emphasis on psychiatric health as much as we can.”
Additionally, the retired nurse expressed concerns about the increasing number of individuals entering the nursing profession due to job shortages rather than a genuine passion for the field. He stated that many of these individuals lack the necessary qualities to be good nurses, adding that he had to retrain several nurses who worked under him.
“Jobs are very scarce, and because of this, people take up anything they can find. They enter the profession, but tuition is a problem. You go to a class, and there are a hundred or two hundred students. When they even go to the ward, they embarrass the patients. The tutor will not have the time to take these nurses through proper training. I run a hospital, and I can tell you that those who complete their studies and come to Ayamfooya Memorial Hospital just to work for some time before they get postings from the government are exceptional. I have to retrain them,” he stated.
Source: A1Radioonline.com | 101.1Mhz | Nana Yaa Mensah | Bolgatanga
