Read all about our latest achievements by downloading this pdf!
This page contains some of the programme's key useful summaries and resources from our work to date. This is organised into sections covering our work on:
COVID-19
Mental Health
Disability and Mental Health
Learning Products
Strategies and tools
Guidance notes and how to
Tools developed to support district mental healthcare plans
Tools developed to address psychotropic drugs supply
COVID-19
Leave no one behind during the coronavirus outbreak in Ghana
This briefing, written in April 2020 near the start of the pandemic, outlines the challenges of the COVID-19 for people with disabilities, including people with mental health and/or psychosocial disabilities, as well as recommendations to support the Government of Ghana’s commitment to ‘Leave No One Behind’ in their implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and their commitments at the Global Disability Summit.
Click here to download in PDF format
Rapid assessment: Impact of COVID-19 on people with disabilities, including people with mental health disabilities, in Ghana
This is a summary of how COVID-19 impacted people with disabilities, including people with mental health disabilities in Ghana, during the first four months of the pandemic. It aims to help people and organisations delivering services during a pandemic to better plan for the provision of services for people with disabilities, including people with mental health disabilities.
The full rapid assessment report can be read by contacting Ghana Somubi Dwumadie, who conducted the rapid assessment. The rapid assessment was informed by data collected up to 25 June 2020, including a survey with disabled people’s organisations and self-help groups.
Click here to download in PDF format
Assessment of preparedness of psychiatric hospitals in Ghana to manage COVID-19: scorecard summary
This summary is for managers and staff working at psychiatric hospitals in Ghana, as well as the Ghana Mental Health Authority. It summarises an assessment of preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying what was done well and where more work could be done in three psychiatric hospitals in Ghana: Accra Psychiatric Hospital in the Greater Accra Region, Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital in the Central Region, and Pantang Hospital in the Greater Accra Region. Research for the report was undertaken in September 2020.
Click here to download PDF format
An easy read guide to COVID-19
This leaflet is about COVID-19 and how to stay safe. It has easy words and pictures. It is for all people with disabilities. This includes people with mental health disabilities, their families and people in the community. Other people may also find it useful.
Click here to download PDF format
Mental Health
Supporting Self-Help Groups for greater effectiveness
This study was an assessment of functionality, performance, and engagement with government agencies between Self-Help Groups supported for one year versus those supported for up to three years. It was conducted by BasicNeeds-Ghana, a consortium partner of Ghana Somubi Dwumadie (Ghana Participation Programme). Click here to download pdf document
Policy Brief on Mental Health Needs of Deaf People
This policy brief was produced by Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD) with a grant from Ghana Somubi Dwumadie. It looks at how to address the mental health needs of deaf people through an Inclusive Mental Health Policy. Click here to download a PDF version
More information can be found on GNAD’s website: https://gnadgh.org/category/projects/empowered-deaf-people-for-improved-mental-health/
Policy brief on Mental Health and Quality of Life Situation of Women Accused of Witchcraft in Northern and North East Regions in Ghana
This policy brief was produced by Songtaba with a grant from Ghana Somubi Dwumadie. It highlights the gender dimensions of witchcraft allegations, and the mental health and quality of life of women accused of witchcraft.
Click here to download a pdf version
The full report can be found on Songtaba’s website https://www.songtaba.org/songtaba-report-on-mental-health-status-in-ghana/
Evidence-based review of DACF Disability Fund Guidelines
This report was produced by Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) with technical support from Ghana Somubi Dwumadie. The report provides an informed understanding of the status of implementation of the guidelines, 10 years after its adoption as a national policy.
Click here to download a pdf version
Investment case in mental health
This advocacy tool summarises key facts, figures and messages making the case for increased investment in mental health in Ghana.
Click here to download PDF format
Summary of psychotropic medicine report
This briefing is for government agencies and institutions involved in the regulation, financing, procurement, distribution, supply and prescription of psychotropic medicines in Ghana. It will also be useful for disabled people’s organisations, self-help groups and civil society organisations who are working to ensure adequate provision of mental health services.
This briefing is a summary of a report written in December 2020 by Ghana Somubi Dwumadie. The full report details a review to rapidly assess access to psychotropic medicines in Ghana. The main purpose of the review is to identify barriers to availability. It also provides recommendations to support multi-stakeholder plans to address short term and systemic supply issues, in alignment with the Mental Health Act.
Click here to download PDF format
Mental Health and Disability
Knowledge Attitudes and Practices Survey in Ghana
This briefing is for anyone working to ensure social behaviour change in the area of disability and mental health, such as Disabled People’s Organisations, civil society organisations, researchers, development organisations and government agencies. It is a summary of a report written in December 2021 about a KAP survey which was carried out in October 2021 in 12 implementation districts across Ghana. Click here to download pdf document
Research on mental health and disability in Ghana
This summary is intended for those who are commissioning research on mental health and disability in Ghana or those who want to improve mental health services in Ghana. It outlines gaps and priorities in mental health and disability research in Ghana. The original report was written in December 2020 and updated in March 2021. Click here to download PDF format
Summary on Political Economy Analysis (PEA)
This briefing is a summary of a study conducted in October 2020 by Ghana Somubi Dwumadie. A Political Economy Analysis (PEA) was undertaken to enhance existing knowledge and understanding of how power dynamics, values, customs, and conventions affect mental health and disability policies in Ghana. It has been developed from six available studies prepared for Ghana Somubi Dwumadie on different aspects of disability, including mental health conditions.
Click here to download pdf document
Summary of study on stigma and discrimination
Stigma and discrimination related to disability, and mental health conditions, are widespread in Ghana. They present a major barrier which prevent people with disabilities, including people with mental health conditions, from equitably accessing health and social opportunities.
This briefing is a summary of a study conducted in November 2020 by Ghana Somubi Dwumadie. The overall objective of the formative study was to provide a contextual understanding of the prevailing drivers and manifestations of stigma related to disability, including mental health conditions, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes manifestations of both experiences and practices.
Click here to download PDF format
Focus on Community-Based Rehabilitation in Ghana
This summary is for those who deliver services for people with disabilities, including people with mental health disabilities. It explains more about community-based rehabilitation. It was written to support funding proposals for community-based rehabilitation initiatives that employ a well-designed research study with a clearly defined research question and defined protocol for data collection, analysis and dissemination. The grants round closed in January 2021. Click here to download PDF format
Improving user-led approaches in mental health and disability services
This briefing is for those who deliver services for people with disabilities, including people with mental health disabilities. It helps identify how to improve the way those services are delivered. The briefing explains what user-led approaches to disability services are, specific to Ghana. Ghana Somubi Dwumadie wrote this report. The full report can be read by contacting the programme. Research done for this report in late 2020 identified that users of disability and mental health services wanted to be more engaged and consulted on issues relating to them.
Click here to download PDF format
Learning Products and Policy Briefs
Evidence and Effectiveness Grants Evaluation Summary: Large Grantees
This summary shares key findings and results from our large Evidence and Effectiveness grants to four organisations who implemented both Advocacy and Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) projects ensuring that people with disabilities, including people with mental health conditions, are in the lead on approaches to improve their wellbeing, social and economic outcomes, and rights. Click here to download summary.
Legacy and Sustainability Grants Evaluation Summary
This evaluation summary distils lessons and outcomes from the Legacy and Sustainability grants through which we harnessed the unique contribution and strengths of small and grassroots organisations by strengthening their capacity to bring about sustainable change in the lives of people with disabilities, including people with mental health conditions, and particularly women with disabilities or mental health conditions. Download summary here.
Mental Health Review Tribunal: Lessons Learned
This report seeks to outline the key steps taken regarding the setup, establishment and implementation of the pilot Mental Health Review Tribunal in Ghana; drawing out lessons learnt and recommendations for scale up based explicitly on the self-review and experience of the technical assistance provided by Ghana Somubi Dwumadie between 2020 and December 2023. You can download it here
How user-led and policy-level approaches complement each other
The purpose of this learning product is to deepen understanding and build knowledge amongst Organisations of Persons with Disabilities, civil society, implementing partners, and government stakeholders on how user-led andpolicy-levell approaches can complement each other. It is shares promising practices for adaptation and lessons drawn from implementing complementary user-led and policy-level strategies. These lessons indicate how combining these approaches can bring issues to life, help build consensus, and help to establish the conditions for sustainable change. Click here to download the paper in pdf format!
The role of interface meetings between Self-Help Groups and Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies
This learning paper sets out the processes and strategies that have been employed to mobilise and facilitate engagement meetings between representatives of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and key officials of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs). The paper describes the effectiveness of bringing relevant duty bearers into direct contact with rights holders to deliberate on issues that affect their wellbeing. Click here to download the learning paper in pdf format.
Scaling up mental health services in Ghana: Preliminary evidence from district demonstration sites
District mental healthcare plans can have a positive impact on reducing the treatment gap for mental health services through an integrated approach to the detection, treatment, and management of mental health conditions. Read more from our policy brief. Click here to download in pdf format
Access to psychotropic medicines in Ghana: Issues, strategies, and recommendations
Ensuring a regular supply of psychotropic medicines in Ghana is a priority for the Mental Health Authority (MHA). Ghana Somubi Dwumadie therefore partnered with the MHA to understand the issues, initiate immediate steps for action, and develop a way forward. Click here to download the policy brief in pdf format
The value of community volunteers in mental health and psychosocial support services
This learning product describes the value of community volunteers to Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Lessons are drawn from 17 years of BasicNeeds-Ghana’s work and their work with SHGs and community volunteers on Ghana Somubi Dwumadie. Click here to download PDF format
Managing learning in a multi-stakeholder disability and mental health inclusion programme
This learning product distils the lessons learned from a review of the internal learning mechanisms and processes employed by Ghana Somubi Dwumadie. Click here to download PDF format
From theory to practice: Putting inclusive and accessible Social Behaviour Change into action
This learning product distils the lessons learnt from the design, delivery, and monitoring of an inclusive and accessible Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) approach with five Ghanaian grantees. It is based on findings from the grantee learning exchange and workshop (both conducted in 2022) and other key documentation including grantee reports, quality assurance checklists, evaluation reports and the grantee materials and activity session plans. Click here for PDF format
Mental health and disability research priorities and capacity needs in Ghana
Mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) conditions are key drivers of increased morbidity and mortality in the world over. We conducted a study to identify mental health and disability research priorities and capacity needs for Ghana. Read this policy brief to find out how this research agenda provides an important framework to identify the most pressing mental health challenges and has the potential to significantly reduce the burden of MNS conditions and the wide treatment gap. Click here to download policy brief
What works in grant-making mechanisms for mental health and disability inclusion programmes in Ghana
This learning product distils the lessons learnt from the implementation of a grant-making mechanism within a mental health and disability programme in Ghana. It draws on the key learnings from two grants rounds based on a review of key documentation and structured key informant discussions to capture additional knowledge. Mid-way through the programme, there is useful learning to share from the experience of grant-making. It is intended that the learning can help inform future work for key programme stakeholders, and wider audiences who may be implementing or have an interest in granting within the mental health and disability sector. Click here to download learning in pdf
Using an investment case for mental health
This learning product focusses on how the dissemination of a mental health investment case has been used to influence policy dialogue. It outlines the promising dissemination practices used to make the case for investing in mental health in Ghana. An earlier learning product describes how Ghana Somubi Dwumadie worked with stakeholders in developing an investment case for mental health for Ghana, and the key learnings which emerged that may be useful to others developing similar investment cases. Click here to download pdf summary
How inception work and scoping studies informed and shaped Ghana Somubi Dwumadie
Written in January 2021, this learning product outlines the value of inception and scoping work in the first six months of the programme, and how the learnings were used. Click here to download PDF format
Developing an investment case for mental health financing
This Learning Product describes how Ghana Somubi Dwumadie worked with the Mental Health Authority and other stakeholders in developing an investment case for mental health for Ghana, and the key learnings which emerged that may be useful to others developing similar investment cases. The investment case process is described as a series of stages. However, it is important to note that several of these progressed in an iterative, concurrent fashion, rather than sequentially. Click here to download PDF format
Strategies & Tools
Advocacy Toolkit for Implementation of global disability commitments
Are you interested in helping ensure that Ghana’s Disability Committments are implemented? We’ve developed this tool kit to share some advocacy tips for stakeholders. You can download the toolkit here: download pdf here
2022 Global Disability Commitments Roadmap
As part of technical assistance to the Government of Ghana, Ghana Somubi Dwumadie supported the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to bring together key stakeholders, including people with disabilities and mental health conditions, to develop a concrete roadmap for the implementation of the 2022 Global Disability Summit disability commitments made by Ghana. You can download the full roadmap here: download pdf here
See above for a short toolkit to support advocacy on the disability commitments.
Accessibility toolkit on built environment
With increasing urban populations around the world, there is a greater need for accessible infrastructure, especially in cities. When the requirements of persons with disabilities are considered in infrastructure planning, drawing on the principles of universal design, persons with disabilities will have greater independence and access to employment, transport, health care, and other necessary services.
This toolkit provides information on the accessibility of some public places like health facilities and business centres for people with disabilities. Click here to download pdf format
Community entry toolkit
This toolkit is produced by Ghana Somubi Dwumadie and is intended for use by organisations and community development workers supporting Self-Help Groups (SHGs). It provides guidance on the processes that need to be followed to establish community-based SHGs, with particular application in the mental health sector. The toolkit outlines the importance of community entry and the steps to achieve this. Examples and case studies are also provided to enhance appreciation of the processes set out in this toolkit. Click here for pdf format
Rights-Based advocacy toolkit for self-help groups
This toolkit provides a brief overview of human rights and rights-based advocacy as well as the strategies and tools that can be used to strengthen advocacy efforts of self-help groups (SHGs). This toolkit is intended for use by SHGs and therefore provides information on what leaders of SHGs need to do to address an issue or situation that they desire to change. Click here to download PDF format
Please contact the programme if you would like an example presentation pack to accompany the toolkit.
Guides on appropriate language for disability and mental health
Our grantees have been developing local language guides to reduce stigma and discrimination against people with disabilities, including people with mental health conditions.
This guide, developed by our grantee VOICE Ghana in August 2021, has words, phrases, and other appropriate languages in Twi, Ewe and Konkomba that can be used to refer to people with disabilities. Click here to download a PDF format
This guide developed by our grantee Hope for Future Generations, with The PsyK Forum has more positive words and phrases in English, Twi, Fante, Ga, Mampruli and Gonja. Click here to download a PDF version
Advocacy strategy
This advocacy strategy guides the programmes advocacy actions, which focus on thinking and working politically. This includes mapping power relations and targets, having consistent messaging and approaches, adaptability to the policy context, evidence based advocacy, and building positive relationships. You can download a pdf copy of the advocacy strategy here
Social Behaviour Change Strategy
This SBC strategy guides the programme’s outcome of reducing negative and discriminatory attitudes, behaviours and norms faced by people with disabilities in Ghana, including people with mental health conditions. The objectives of the strategy and associated behaviours are listed below:
1. Create a positive culture of support to allow people with disabilities, including people with mental health conditions, to reach their full potential.
2. Increase the use of positive disability and mental health language in Ghana.
3. Ensure duty bearers enforce and abide by Ghana's policies and laws.
Click here to download PDF format
Accessibility Audit Tool
Article 25 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) recognises that people with disabilities have the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination on the basis of disability. However, physical and communication barriers can prevent people with disabilities from accessing health services safely, equitably and independently.
As government strives to implement Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring that people with disabilities have equitable access to inclusive and accessible healthcare is crucial to achieve universal health coverage and fulfilling the pledge of leaving no one behind.
This document aims to provide guidance to government authorities, multilateral agencies, healthcare providers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) and other stakeholders to enable them to improve the accessibility of healthcare facilities in Ghana.
Contact us for full versions of any report link
Guidance Notes and ‘How To’
SBCC Guidance Notes for grantees
The objective of this guidance is to support the programme in assuring the quality of social behaviour change (SBC) interventions of Ghana Somubi Dwumadie SBC grantees. The guidance of quality is in line with the Ghana Somubi Dwumadie SBC strategy which is focused on reducing negative and discriminatory attitudes, behaviours and norms faced by people with disabilities in Ghana, including people with mental health conditions.
Tools developed to support district mental healthcare plans
To facilitate the implementation of the district mental healthcare plans, the programme together with stakeholders have developed essential tools to support future scale-up efforts:
Theory of change maps, that provide the logic frame for the design, implementation and evaluation of district mental healthcare plans. Click here for pdf version
Training manual for community health volunteers to help with the training as part of its effort to increase community members’ abilities to identify and refer suspected MNS problems. Click here for pdf version
Standard Operating Procedures detailing key processes and expectations on the implementation of district mental healthcare plans to help improve efficiency, offer consistent outcomes, and ensure conformity to operating standards. Click here for pdf version
WHO also has a dedicated website for mhGAP training tools. Click here to see more on mhGAP
Policy brief on Scaling up mental health services in Ghana: Preliminary evidence from district demonstration sites. Click here to download pdf version
Tools developed to support psychotropic medicines supply
Coming soon