Psychological distress among community-based mental health professionals in Ghana: prevalence and contributing factors

Abstract

In Ghana, community-based mental health professionals (MHPs) are essential in providing mental health treatments, albeit in difficult circumstances. High workloads, a lack of institutional support, and resource constraints are among the factors in these professions' elevated psychological distress. Using a sequential explanatory mixed methods design, this study investigated the prevalence and contributing factors of psychological distress among mental health professionals (MHPs) working in communities in Ghana. Using the DASS-21 scale, quantitative data were gathered from 300 MHPs, and the results showed that the prevalence of clinically significant levels of psychological distress (from mild to extremely severe) was 41.3% for anxiety, 36% for depression, and 32.7% for stress. Psychological distress was significantly influenced by factors such as marital status and work experience. Qualitative interviews with 25 MHPs revealed more stressors that support the high prevalence rates, including workload and clients' behaviour; resource and infrastructure constraints; stigma and affiliate stigma; and lack of institutional support and isolation. The nature and extent of distress beyond depression, anxiety and stress gathered from MHPs' perspectives were the experience of "intense distress" (acute), "persistent distress" (chronic), and "emotional distress" (a component of burnout). Therefore, systemic adjustments, including better infrastructure, more financing for mental health services, and the creation of MHP-specific support programmes, are needed to address the psychological distress of MHPs in Ghana.