Exploring the Impact of Human Rights and Mental Health Training on Practice in Ghana

The World Health Organization’s QualityRights initiative is being implemented globally to improve human rights in mental health services. This e-training was rolled out for mental health staff and other stakeholders across Ghana in 2019 in order to address persistent challenges of mental health services related to stigma, discrimination, and human rights violations against people with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities that exist in the country. The study design was a post-training questionnaire survey conducted after QualityRights e-training. Overall, 1082 participants responded to the follow-up questionnaire and some provided comments about their intentions to alter their practices after the e-training. The comments were qualitatively analysed. Of the 579 participants who provided 579 free-text comments, 577 (99%) indicated a positive intention to improve practice and to protect human rights by respecting autonomy, providing support, and preventing abuse. Seven themes were identified: overall rights-based approach, discrimination and stigma, legal capacity and supported decision-making, eliminating coercive practices, promotion of recovery, advocating for rights, and practical change. Participants expressed the intention to stop human rights violations and to promote rehabilitation and empowerment of persons with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities. The e-training therefore inspired people to put a human rights–based approach into practice, which laid the foundation for stigma reduction and a focus on person-centred care.