Acceptability and perceived impact of a mental health and disability programme in Ghana.

Abstract

Background: Ghana Somubi Dwumadie aimed to improve wellbeing of people with disabilities, including people with mental health conditions, through four pillars: strengthening policies and systems; scaling up integrated, accessible mental health services; reducing stigma and discrimination; and generating evidence to inform policy and practice. Despite these efforts, its implementation has not been comprehensively evaluated.

Objectives: To assess the programme's acceptability and perceived impact from the perspective of key stakeholders, including government, civil society organisations, and grantees.

Methods: A process evaluation, guided by the programme's Theory of Change, involved in-depth interviews with 32 stakeholders from programme partners, civil society and government. Document reviews supplemented data collection, and thematic analysis identified key insights.

Results: Stakeholders highlighted the programme's technical assistance as crucial for strengthening advocacy and policy leadership in mental health. The integration of mental health services into primary care and the involvement of traditional leaders to reduce stigma were noted successes. Challenges included funding instability, gaps between advocacy and service delivery and limited control over implementing key policy reforms.

Conclusion: Ghana Somubi Dwumadie made significant strides in disability inclusion and mental health care through its multi-sectoral, user-led approaches. Addressing challenges like sustainable funding and service delivery will be critical for ensuring lasting impact and scalability.

Contribution: This study underscores the impact of user-led, multi-sectoral approaches in reducing stigma, scaling services, and empowering people with disabilities in resource-limited settings, while addressing challenges and strategies for disability-inclusive programming.