Essien Bernice, Asamoah Moses Kumi
Central University, P.O Box 2305, Tema, Ghana.
J Relig Health. 2020 Oct;59(5):2531-2555. doi: 10.1007/s10943-020-01059-8.
The current paper sought to thematically present common challenges associated with mental healthcare services in Africa. We largely limited our search for literature materials to studies published from 2003 to 2019 in African countries from which the findings showed that there are common challenges confronting mental healthcare services in Africa. The challenges include: inadequate mental healthcare facilities, funding constraints, shortage of professional healthcare workers, inadequate training and development scheme for mental health workers and weak mental healthcare policies. Implications for policy and practice are disclosed and recommendations are stated to trigger actions to remedy the situation. This information is beneficial for researchers, policymakers, mental healthcare providers and community members who are interested in mental healthcare issues. It was concluded that in order for Africa to enjoy successful mental healthcare service, critical and enduring attention must focus on sound and enforceable government policy on mental healthcare service, provision of adequate and regular funding, availability of adequate mental healthcare facilities, provision of training and development facilities for the mental health professionals and collaboration of mental healthcare providers.
本文旨在专题介绍非洲精神卫生保健服务所面临的常见挑战。我们在很大程度上把文献资料的搜索范围限定在2003年至2019年期间非洲国家发表的研究,研究结果表明非洲精神卫生保健服务面临着一些共同挑战。这些挑战包括:精神卫生保健设施不足、资金限制、专业医护人员短缺、精神卫生工作者培训和发展计划不足以及精神卫生保健政策薄弱。文中揭示了对政策和实践的影响,并提出了相关建议,以促使采取行动改善这种状况。这些信息对关注精神卫生保健问题的研究人员、政策制定者、精神卫生保健提供者和社区成员有益。得出的结论是,为了使非洲享有成功的精神卫生保健服务,必须持续给予关键关注,重点放在健全且可执行的精神卫生保健服务政府政策、提供充足且定期的资金、提供足够的精神卫生保健设施、为精神卫生专业人员提供培训和发展设施以及精神卫生保健提供者之间的合作上。